Punjab Kings’ skipper Shreyas Iyer commended Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey for their strong performance as Rajasthan Royals handed the hosts their first loss of the season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 in New Chandigarh. Iyer acknowledged the exceptional play of Dubey and Ferreira, highlighting their partnership in the match.
Punjab Kings set a challenging target of 222/4, with Marcus Stoinis’ explosive 62 off 22 balls and Prabhsimran Singh’s solid 59 off 44 contributing significantly. Despite contributions from Iyer and Cooper Connolly, it was Stoinis’ late blitz that propelled them past 220.
Rajasthan Royals successfully chased down the target with six wickets in hand, thanks to a game-changing partnership of 77 runs off 32 balls between Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey. Their aggressive approach in the final overs transformed what seemed like a tough chase into a comfortable victory.
Reflecting on the challenges faced by bowlers in this format, Iyer noted the evolving strategies of players and emphasized the importance of execution. He acknowledged that it was not Punjab Kings’ day and highlighted the need for bowlers to adapt to the aggressive batting style prevalent in T20 cricket.
Despite the defeat, Iyer remained optimistic, stressing the importance of learning from the loss and maintaining a positive outlook. He also lauded the performance of his spinners, particularly highlighting Harpreet Brar’s impressive display in his debut game. Brar’s economical spell of 25 runs in four overs earned him praise from Iyer for his character and contribution to the team’s bowling attack.
