Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra praised Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy after the Punjab Kings registered a three-wicket win against the Gujarat Titans at New Chandigarh on Tuesday. Chopra noted how Shreyas Iyer didn’t utilise the services of Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis as the sixth bowler.
PBKS’ five bowlers – Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Xavier Bartlett – completed their quota of four overs and restricted GT to a below-par score of 162.
“Firstly, the captaincy was good, and secondly, the execution of the plans was excellent. The captaincy was good because he used only five bowlers. He didn’t go towards the sixth at all. Marcus Stoinis was available as an option, but he said he didn’t need him. He said he would manage with five,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra highlighted that Iyer introduced Yuzvendra Chahal at the right time after the Powerplay, with the leg-spinner dismissing Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler. Chahal continued his domination against Gill in the IPL, dismissing him for the fourth time in the tournament.
“The powerplay actually went in the opposing team’s name, but Shreyas was very good with the leadership, the way he rotated the bowlers, and when he brought in Yuzvendra Chahal. Once he was introduced, he first got Shubman Gill out and Jos Buttler later. He conceded only 28 runs in four overs. Thumbs up with both hands,” he observed.
The former KKR batter noted that Arshdeep Singh was a tad expensive in his spell (0-42), but Iyer was able to get the best out of his other bowlers.
“Their four fast bowlers did an excellent job because their utilization was brilliant. Xavier Bartlett was expensive at the start, but his overs were completed by setting the right field. Arshdeep is very rarely expensive and wicketless, but it was brilliant the way he got the job done from the others. Vijaykumar Vyshak was outstanding. Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, in my opinion, was thumbs up with both hands,” Chopra elaborated.
Vijaykumar Vyshak was the pick of the PBKS bowlers as he returned with impressive figures of 3-34 in his four overs.
Punjab Kings will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Friday.
