Credit: BCCI/IPL
Speaking exclusively on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar reflected on Shreyas Iyer’s match-winning knock against Mumbai Indians: "There's so much to appreciate about Shreyas Iyer’s overall approach. The way he allows the batter at the other end to play their natural game is crucial — and that ability to build partnerships made the real difference. Some of the shots he played, especially against quality yorkers — guiding them past short third and point and even threading one through fine third man — were outstanding, especially with the game in the balance. It was a fabulous effort from Shreyas. His experience and temperament were key to navigating a strong Mumbai Indians attack, which he dismantled by picking his moments and targeting the right bowlers."
JioStar expert AB de Villiers hailed Shreyas Iyer’s knock as a masterclass under pressure: "I’m obviously a huge fan. What happened in the game was out of this world, and Shreyas deserves full credit. Under extreme pressure, he delivered when it mattered. That four off Bumrah past the slip cordon — for me, that was the shot of the night. His sixes were clean, no mishits. He stays calm, doesn’t get arrogant or overly emotional — just very level-headed. There are many more runs in him.”
Sanjay Bangar also analysed how Trent Boult’s dropped catch of Nehal Wadhera shifted momentum: "I think it had a lot of flow-on effect. Yes, Boult dropped the catch — but what followed was key. At that time, Santner was bowling beautifully, and Wadhera was just getting started, playing cautiously. That drop meant 12 crucial deliveries from Santner, which could’ve gone to someone like Shashank Singh or Marcus Stoinis, were instead spent on a set Wadhera. That forced Hardik to turn to other bowling options like Reece Topley. So it wasn’t just the drop — it altered the match dynamics significantly."
Sanjay Bangar further highlighted how Josh Inglis’ aggressive attack helped break the fear factor and shifted belief in the PBKS camp: "I think Inglis’ fierce intent to take on the best bowler and make a statement to the dugout was absolutely crucial. In a shortened game — 16 or 17 overs — you usually assume Bumrah will go for under 30. But Inglis didn’t play the reputation; he played the ball. He made sure the hype around Bumrah didn’t weigh on the other batters. By attacking him early, he chipped away at Bumrah’s aura — and that kind of bold approach lifts the confidence in the dugout. It was a huge mental boost for Punjab Kings."
AB de Villiers backed Hardik Pandya’s leadership, saying MI were outclassed by high-quality batting, not poor execution: "I feel for Hardik and the questions he had to face afterwards. It’s tough being a captain — there’s a lot of emotion involved. I’ve been there, and it’s never easy to admit things didn’t go as planned. But I don’t agree with the criticism. They had a par score with the bat and were simply outplayed while bowling. Of course, you want to bowl 120 perfect yorkers, but no team is perfect. Shreyas Iyer, and to some extent Josh Inglis, made the difference. They were outplayed by quality cricket — that’s the beauty of the game."
