Punjab Kings‘ hopes of building a solid foundation in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Qualifier 1 took another hit as captain Shreyas Iyer departed cheaply against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, playing a loose and uncharacteristic shot under pressure.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer falls to a rash stroke as PBKS slip further

With PBKS at 30/2 in the fourth over, Iyer walked in hoping to anchor the innings, but his stay was short-lived. Facing Josh Hazlewoodwho was bowling with rhythm and accuracy, Iyer attempted an ambitious hoick off a good-length delivery outside off stump. The shot lacked control and timing, resulting in a thick edge that flew straight to wicketkeeper Jitesh sharmawho made no mistake. Iyer managed just 2 runs off 3 balls at a strike rate of 66.66, and his decision-making will certainly come under scrutiny given the match situation. Hazlewood’s early spell rattled PBKS, and this dismissal highlighted how poor shot selection under scoreboard pressure can cost a side dearly in knockout games. With the captain back in the hut and the scoreboard reading 30/3, PBKS were staring at a potential collapse.

Powerplay struggles for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 against RCB

In a high-stakes IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mohali, Punjab Kings (PBKS) endured a shaky start after being put in to bat by Bengaluru. PBKS reached 48/4 at the end of the six-over powerplay, managing a run rate of 8.00 but losing key wickets early. Priyansh Arya fell for 7 in the second over, followed by a brisk 18 from Prabhsimran Singhwho looked promising before holing out. Captain Shreyas Iyer could only manage 2, while Josh Inglis’ poor form continued with a slow 4 off 7 balls. RCB bowlers kept the pressure intact with disciplined lines, Hazlewood was the standout, picking up 2 wickets in his two overs for just 14 runs. Bhuvneshwar kumar and Yash dayal chipped in with a wicket apiece, taking advantage of swing and bounce. Nehal wadhera and Marcus Stoinis tried to stabilize things with a brief unbeaten stand, but RCB clearly dominated the first phase, putting PBKS on the back foot.

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