Punjab Kings edged closer to clinching a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs with a nail-biting 10-run win over Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. But while the match saw plenty of drama on the field, the biggest talking point was skipper Shreyas Iyer being subbed out, with Harpreet Brar coming in as the impact substitute. In Iyer’s absence, Shashank Singh took over the captaincy duties for PBKS.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Shreyas Iyer revealed that he had injured his forefinger during a training session on Saturday. The PBKS captain admitted he was unsure about the extent of the injury and would only get more clarity after consulting the team’s medical staff.
“The reason is the finger over here,” Shreyas Iyer said, pointing at his forefinger. “I don’t know what exactly has happened. I got hit during practice yesterday. I’ll have to check with the physios.”
WATCH – Harpreet Brar Dismisses Riyan Parag with a Beauty, Celebrates with Stylish Send-Off
Despite his absence on the field, Shreyas kept a close watch on proceedings and praised his team’s fighting spirit, especially after Rajasthan Royals’ explosive start. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi unleashed an aggressive opening stand, giving RR the fastest team fifty of the IPL 2025 season. However, PBKS bounced back strongly, especially through Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen, who held their nerve in the final overs to defend 30 runs.
PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer has given an update on his finger injury, which forced him to get subbed out after the first innings against RR. #ShreyasIyerhttps://t.co/C7yWW7dC2w
— News18 CricketNext (@cricketnext) May 18, 2025
“I kept passing on messages to the team, urging them to maintain positive body language,” Iyer said. “It’s easy to feel the game is slipping away, but I’m proud of the players for staying bold and committed.”
The real difference-maker, though, was Harpreet Brar. The left-arm spinner turned the tide in PBKS’s favour, picking up the crucial wickets of Jaiswal, Suryavanshi, and Riyan Parag to derail Rajasthan’s momentum.
WATCH – Yashasvi Jaiswal Dismantles Arshdeep Singh With 22-Run Onslaught in Opening Over
“He’s been incredibly consistent in the nets,” Shreyas Iyer said of Brar. “He was hungry for the opportunity, and today he stepped up when it mattered most. His mindset and work ethic have been top-notch.” Reflecting on the team’s comeback after the recent break, Iyer added, “The boys returned refreshed and showed great intent. The timing of the break helped, and now we’re peaking at the right moment.”
With this win, Punjab Kings climbed to second on the points table. If Gujarat Titans manage to defeat Delhi Capitals, PBKS, GT, and RCB will officially seal their playoff spots, setting the stage for an electrifying finish to the league phase.
