IPL 2025 | Need to take bull by the horns: Shreyas Iyer after PBKS lose to RCB

In the IPL 2025 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS) suffered a loss by seven wickets.

The defeat against PBKS helped Rajat Patidar and his men to reach the third spot on the IPL 2025 points table.

Following his side`s loss, skipper Shreyas Iyer said that PBKS are unable to capitalise on their starts.

“If you see the majority of the batsmen, they love to go from ball one… We are not able to capitalise on the starts we are getting. The wicket is getting slower and slower. Even in the middle phase we thought we could take on the bowlers. Credit to Virat and the boys,” he said, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Despite delivering a good start, Punjab failed to maintain its momentum. The failure of their middle order has now turned out to be a major concern for the side.

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“We keep talking about adapting to the wicket. Few of the other middle-order batsmen need to step up; need to take the bull by the horns. I`m in a great mind space. Just that I need to cross ten runs. I just need to be free-flowing as well,” he added.

The Punjab Kings will now have a break of six days. The Shreyas Iyer-led side will lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 26 at the Eden Gardens.

“We`ve got six days of break, so it`s important we go back to the drawing board. It`s important to assess our body as well,” Iyer added.

Coming to the match, RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first. After openers Priyansh Arya (22 in 15 balls, with three fours and a six) and Prabhsimran Singh (33 in 17 balls, with five fours and a six) delivered a fine 42-run stand, they just could not recapture their hold in the match once again as spinners Krunal (2/25) and Suyash Sharma (2/26) dominated the batting. A 43-run stand between Marco Jansen (25* in 20 balls, with two sixes) and Shashank Singh (31* in 33 balls, with a four) took PBKS to a modest 157/6 in their 20 overs.

During the run-chase of 158 runs, RCB lost Phil Salt early, however half-centuries from Virat Kohli (73* in 54 balls, with seven fours and a six) and Devdutt Padikkal (61 in 35 balls, with five fours and four sixes) took RCB to a seven wicket win with seven balls left.

With this win, RCB has managed to avenge their five-wicket loss to PBKS at their home stadium of M Chinnaswammy Stadium and secured their fifth win of the season. They are in third spot, with five wins, three losses and 10 points. With a same win-loss ratio, PBKS is at fourth spot.

(With ANI Inputs)