Punjab Kings storm to top of IPL standings
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said an internal competitive edge has driven his side’s early-season success rather than any desire to impress those outside the dressing room, after scoring a second successive Indian Premier League (IPL) win.
The team stormed to the top of the IPL standings by chasing down 210 with eight balls to spare against Chennai Super Kings, completing another statement victory to open their campaign with back-to-back wins.
Their top order came out swinging and never really relented, with Iyer leading by example with a commanding 50 off 29 balls as Punjab completed the chase at Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
“We’ve just decided in the dressing room that whatever happens, we are going to play a brand of cricket which is to impress each other, not others outside,” Iyer said after the match.
“That gives us a certain sort of clarity as well, when we approach the game. It is basically challenging each other inside the dressing room, not outside.”
The chase was Punjab’s ninth successful pursuit of a 200-plus target, the highest among the IPL’s 10 franchises.
Opener Priyansh Arya provided the early spark with a blistering 39 off 11 balls, and Punjab’s top-order batsmen sustained the charge, leaving Chennai chasing the game for most of the night.
“I’m glad that everyone’s getting to bat in the first two games itself,” Iyer said.
“That gives immense confidence for the team as well. Whenever we’re stuck in a pressure situation, people are aware of how to handle them.”
There was, however, one blemish: Iyer and his teammates were fined for a slow over-rate in the second match running, an issue the captain acknowledged needs to be fixed quickly.
“The over-rate is something we should look into right now, because five fielders coming in in the last two overs, you sort of know that there’s one line to bowl.
“That’s the only part we need to focus on.”