A visibly exhausted Shreyas Iyer chose to look at the positives after Punjab Kings fell to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by just 6 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) final at Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Iyer, who was looking for back to back IPL trophies, praised the youngsters and said that next year, they have to be in the final again.
“Dejected to be honest but the way our boys came up to the occasion, the way we cherished, it wasn’t immaculate but lot of credit goes to the management, the support staff and each and every person who has participated and contributed,” Iyer said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“The job is still half done, we have to be here and win the trophy next year. Positives, definitely the way we turned up and every individual stepping up and saying that he can win the match, there are so many youngsters in the team, I’m sure they’ve gained a lot of experience from these matches. I’m sure when they come next year they will carry immense experience with them. We can build some tactics and strategies around that so that we can play some decent cricket,” he added.
Chasing 190, Punjab got off to a rollicking start in their chase and opener Prabhsimran Singh, then on nine, was lucky to be spilled in the deep by Romario Shepherd.
Josh Hazlewood, the luckless Bengaluru bowler, did not have to wait long for success though, as Phil Salt took a stunning catch in the deep to remove Priyansh Arya (24) and break the 43-run opening stand.
Krunal Pandya removed Prabhsimran and Shepherd redeemed himself by dismissing Punjab’s in-form captain Iyer to turn the match on its head.
Left-arm spinner Pandya put Bengaluru on top when he dismissed the dangerous Josh Inglis (39) and effectively sealed the match in Bengaluru’s favour when he dismissed Nehal Wadhera and in the same over.
