Punjab Kings Face Setback Against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026

In a gripping IPL 2026 match, the Punjab Kings faced their second defeat against the Gujarat Titans. Despite a challenging batting performance, Shreyas Iyer praised his team's resilience. The match saw key contributions from Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar for GT, while PBKS struggled early on. Iyer reflected on the team's efforts and the impact of pitch conditions on their performance. This match highlights the competitive nature of the IPL and the challenges teams face as they strive for victory.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 4, 2026, 07:35 IST

Match Overview

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) encountered their second loss in the IPL 2026 season, falling to the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat. Despite a strong season, PBKS faced a challenging match on Sunday, May 3, where their batting lineup faltered, setting a target of only 164 runs for GT. Although PBKS made it difficult for GT, who had to exert effort to secure the win, Sai Sudharsan's 57 runs and Washington Sundar's unbeaten 40 guided them to victory. PBKS struggled initially, finding themselves at 47-5 after being put to bat first, but Suryansh Shedge's 57 and Marcus Stoinis' 40 helped them reach a total of 163-9. Jason Holder from GT was instrumental in their success, taking four wickets for just 24 runs.

Shreyas Iyer's Reaction

Following the defeat, Shreyas Iyer remarked that the score set by PBKS was commendable given the pitch conditions and the early breakthroughs by the Titans' bowlers. He stated, “Yes, absolutely. I personally feel that it was a great score, especially on a wicket where the ball was doing a bit at the start, with the new ball.” Iyer acknowledged that Gujarat's bowlers effectively capitalized on the conditions, putting PBKS in a tough spot early on. “Their bowlers made the best use of the surface, the way they were hitting the lengths and the deck. It was right in the stumps and not giving us many options to open our arms and score runs at the start,” he explained. He noted that losing four wickets during the powerplay made it a remarkable effort to reach 160 runs from that position.

Praise for Team Effort

'Kudos To The Effort': Shreyas Iyer Lauds PBKS For Fightback

Iyer had anticipated that the bowlers would secure early wickets to pressure GT, but the plan did not unfold as expected, with the team losing only one wicket in the first eight overs. Nonetheless, he commended the team's resilience and positive mindset throughout the match. “With the new ball, I thought that we would be able to hit our line and lengths pretty accurately and get early wickets so that we could put some pressure on them,” he said. “But that didn’t work out. But the way we fought in the end, I think kudos to the efforts and the attitude and approach was excellent,” he added.

Bowling Strategy Insights

When questioned about the bowlers' execution of their plans, particularly regarding runs scored square of the wicket, Iyer noted that it was challenging to score in that area on the surface, leading to a strategy focused on hard lengths. However, he conceded that the execution fell short. “We were short on hitting the hard lengths. I feel if you see hitting over mid-wicket or pull shot wasn’t easy on this wicket because there was variable bounce and just to hit on the rise wasn’t an apt wicket to bat on,” Iyer explained. He emphasized that despite the shortcomings, PBKS remains at the top of the table, which is what truly matters, and they will take many positives from this match.

Looking Ahead

Iyer also mentioned that pitches like this one can boost bowlers' confidence in a competitive tournament like the IPL, where scores of 220 are often considered par. “It’s a great challenge, especially going forward in the IPL because it also tends to bring up the attitude of the bowlers as well. It can level up their confidence,” he concluded.