Shreyas Iyer Shines with 85 Runs in Punjab Kings' Practice Match Ahead of IPL 2023
Iyer's Stellar Performance in Intra-Squad Match
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India] - On March 20, Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer delivered an impressive performance, scoring 85 runs off just 41 balls during an intra-squad practice match at the newly inaugurated PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, as the team gears up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
In this match held on Wednesday, Iyer's Team B amassed a total of 205 runs in their allotted 20 overs, largely thanks to his explosive innings. Team A's Shashank Singh managed to take 2 wickets for 38 runs.
Team A's response was strong, with openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh contributing significantly, scoring 72 runs in 31 balls and 66 runs in 42 balls, respectively. Vishnu Vinod also added a quick 26 runs off just 10 balls.
Ultimately, Team A fell short, finishing with 198 runs, just 7 runs behind the target. Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh impressed with his bowling, taking two wickets for only 22 runs in 4 overs, according to a statement from Punjab Kings.
The Punjab Kings will kick off their quest for their first IPL title against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 25. Following that, they will return to their home ground for two matches against the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.
As the 18th season of the IPL approaches, the Punjab Kings held a media briefing on March 18 to discuss their plans. The event featured Head Coach Ricky Ponting, Captain Shreyas Iyer, and CEO Satish Menon, who shared insights into the team's strategies for the upcoming season.
Ponting expressed his admiration for Iyer, stating how pleased he is to have him as captain and looking forward to collaborating with him again. He remarked, “He’s a fantastic individual and an IPL-winning captain. We couldn’t have asked for more. He has just joined the camp a few days ago, and he is beginning to establish his leadership within the team.”
Further discussing the squad's composition, the two-time World Cup-winning coach noted, “We have a great blend of youth and experience, featuring high-quality Indian players alongside some exceptional overseas talent.”
Ponting expressed his satisfaction with the team's training sessions, stating, “I am thrilled with how the squad has come together. Our first practice session went exceptionally well, and the players have been training hard.”
Iyer echoed Ponting's sentiments, expressing his enthusiasm about working with him again and highlighting the positive impact Ponting has on the team. “He supports everyone. When I first worked with him, he instilled confidence in me, making me feel like a top player capable of excelling in this format,” he said.
Regarding the team's objectives for the season, Iyer stated, “Our goal is to win the trophy. It’s a gradual process; we can’t just wake up and achieve it. However, the way we are practicing and building camaraderie is going very well.”
-SQUAD
-Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh (retained), Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Singh Pannu, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash
-Wicketkeepers: Josh Inglis, Vishnu Vinod, Prabhsimran Singh (retained)
-Allrounders: Glenn Maxwell (spin), Marcus Stoinis (pace), Marco Jansen (pace), Harpreet Brar (spin), Azmatullah Omarzai (pace), Aaron Hardie (pace), Musheer Khan (spin), Suryansh Shedge (pace)
-Spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal, Pravin Dubey
-Fast bowlers: Arshdeep Singh (RTM), Lockie Ferguson, Yash Thakur, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Kuldeep Sen, Xavier Bartlett.