Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer endured a rare off day with the bat during the IPL 2026 clash against the Rajasthan Royals in Mullanpur on April 28. Known for his aggressive strokeplay and commanding presence at the crease, Iyer looked unusually restrained, managing just 30 off 27 deliveries after being asked to bat first by RR captain Riyan Parag.
Walking in during the ninth over after another solid start from the top order, Iyer struggled to find his usual rhythm. The Royals’ spin duo, led by Ravindra Jadeja, applied consistent pressure through tight lines and clever variations. Iyer took 14 balls to register his first boundary, a stat that reflected his inability to break free during the middle overs.
Despite his efforts to rotate strike, the lack of fluency was evident throughout his innings. His stay at the crease came to an end in the 18th over when he attempted to accelerate against Nandre Burger.
ALSO READ: Kris Srikkanth Questions Nitish Rana As DC’s Batting Woes Deepen In IPL 2026
The left-arm pacer outsmarted him with a well-disguised slower delivery outside off stump. Iyer, already positioned deep in the crease, went for a big slog but failed to time the ball. The mistimed shot resulted in a simple catch for wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, ending a frustrating knock.
— Cricket Videos (@CricketVds) April 28, 2026
This innings marked only the second time this season that Iyer’s strike rate dipped below 160, underlining how rare such struggles have been for the PBKS captain in IPL 2026. Despite his subdued outing, Punjab Kings were still in a strong position at 181/4 after 18 overs.
ALSO READ: Mitchell McClenaghan Heaps Praise On Virat Kohli After Historic 9000 IPL Runs Milestone
The late surge came courtesy of Marcus Stoinis, who shifted gears brilliantly in the death overs. Taking on the likes of Jofra Archer, Stoinis smashed consecutive sixes before unleashing a boundary spree in the final over. His explosive finish powered PBKS to an imposing total of 222/4, ensuring that Iyer’s quiet innings didn’t significantly dent the team’s overall momentum.
