Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer stirred conversation on Saturday with a bold statement, calling the Indian Premier League (IPL) “bigger than the Premier League”, following his team’s six-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals in Jaipur.
“It is bigger than the Premier League. You have to stay positive and calm, come in with a fresh mindset every day, and live in the present,” Iyer remarked post-match, taking a philosophical stance despite the setback.
Batting first, PBKS posted 206/8 on a pitch with variable bounce. Iyer led the scoring with a composed 53 off 34 balls, while Marcus Stoinis added late momentum with an unbeaten 44 off 16 deliveries.
However, Delhi Capitals chased the target efficiently, finishing at 208/4 in 19.3 overs. Sameer Rizvi anchored the chase with a match-winning 58 off 25 balls*, supported by Karun Nair (44) and KL Rahul (35).
Reflecting on the defeat, Iyer admitted, “207 was a fantastic score on this wicket. We planned to bowl hard lengths, but overused the bouncers while chasing wickets.”
Despite the loss, PBKS have secured a playoff berth, and Iyer remains confident. “Every team is evenly matched. We’ll bounce back with better plans,” he said. On his fitness, he confirmed, “No major concerns—just a finger issue. I’ll be ready for the next match.”
Meanwhile, DC skipper Faf du Plessis acknowledged his team’s efforts despite missing out on the top four. “Fifth place is fair. We need more consistency to finish higher,” he said.
