Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer remained cautious after sustaining a hand injury during the opening match of IPL 2026 against Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur even as his team secured a three-wicket victory. Iyer was hit on the wrist at the non-striker’s end during the chase, causing concern in the dugout as the physio rushed out to attend to him. Despite visible discomfort, he continued briefly before being released as the PBKS held their nerve to complete the tense chase.
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Iyer later offered guarded updates on the injury and chose not to make a definitive statement about his condition. “I’d say it’s nice. It’s the same as before. I don’t want to gossip, hopefully everything will turn out well,” he said. The cautious tone reflects recent setbacks, with the PBKS captain only returning to action after a lengthy injury lay-off that disrupted his rhythm and match fitness.
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CONNOLLY PERFORMS
Debutant Cooper Connolly produced a composed 72 off 44 balls under pressure to ensure Punjab’s win. Enter during a difficult phase, the young Aussie combined composure with clean hitting to anchor the chase. His ability to pick timely lengths and attack quality bowlers stood out, especially a reverse six from Rashid Khan that drew praise from his captain.
“Some of the shots he played were unreal. Rashid Khan’s sixes to hit them so cleanly was phenomenal,” Iyer said. He also credited Connolly’s awareness in managing the chase despite wickets falling at the other end.
“I concentrated on my hand inside, iced it. Then suddenly we lost two wickets against each other. These things happen in the IPL. You have to be calm and composed. Cooper was there, he was well prepared,” Iyer added.
Before that, the PBKS bowlers laid the platform. Yuzvendra Chahal (2/28) effectively controlled the middle overs while Vijaykumar Vyshak took 3/34. Iyer praised Vyshak’s temperament, calling him a “big match player” who is capable of playing at crucial moments.
INJURY WORRIES REMAIN
Iyer revealed that Punjab adapted quickly to the conditions after getting to know the nature of the surface. “After the third over, we realized that the wicket was playing slowly. We decided to bowl the slower ones and make the ball old early,” he said.
He also noticed Gujarat Titans’ aggressive placements at the start of his innings. “I just told Shubman it’s something I haven’t seen before. But it’s good to see the captains being aggressive,” he added.
Punjab Kings now face a quick turnaround, with their next match scheduled against Chennai Super Kings on Friday, April 3 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Iyer’s fitness will be closely monitored, especially considering his recent comeback from spleen injury that sidelined him for nearly two months last year.
Just getting back into the swing of things, PBKS will be hoping their captain’s latest injury concerns remain minor as they look to build momentum early in the tournament.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
1 Apr 2026 0:35 AM IST
