.png){kind=small}
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
1 day ago
5
ARTICLE AD BOX
Sanjay Bangar said Punjab opener Josh Ingis' aggressive attack was what unlocked the barrage and helped break the fear factor of Jasprit Bumrah. (Sportzpics)
Shreyas Iyer had gotten rave reviews for his match-winning knock that sent Punjab Kings into the IPL final. But JioHotstar expert and former India batter Sanjay Bangar said that Josh Inglis’ aggressive attack was what unlocked the barrage and helped break the fear factor of Jasprit Bumrah and shifting belief in the PBKS camp.
“I think Inglis’ fierce intent to take on the best bowler and make a statement to the dugout was absolutely crucial. In a shortened game — 16 or 17 overs — you usually assume Bumrah will go for under 30. But Inglis didn’t play the reputation; he played the ball,” Bangar noted. Bumrah had come into the qualifier fresh from the “delivery of the IPL” uprooting stumps of Washington Sundar. But Inglis punctured the fear bubble.
‘He made sure the hype around Bumrah didn’t weigh on the other batters. By attacking him early, he chipped away at Bumrah’s aura — and that kind of bold approach lifts the confidence in the dugout. It was a huge mental boost for Punjab Kings,” Bangar told JioHotstar.
Bangar also stressed that a dropped catch might have turned the match. Trent Boult dropped a catch of Nehal Wadhera, which Bangar said could have shifted momentum: “I think it had a lot of flow-on effect. Yes, Boult dropped the catch — but what followed was key. At that time, Santner was bowling beautifully, and Wadhera was just getting started, playing cautiously. That drop meant 12 crucial deliveries from Santner, which could’ve gone to someone like Shashank Singh or Marcus Stoinis, were instead spent on a set Wadhera. That forced Hardik to turn to other bowling options like Reece Topley. So it wasn’t just the drop — it altered the match dynamics significantly.”
But Iyer remained the star of the show with Bangar saying he dismantled MI with precision. “There’s so much to appreciate about Shreyas Iyer’s overall approach. The way he allows the batter at the other end to play their natural game is crucial — and that ability to build partnerships made the real difference. Some of the shots he played, especially against quality yorkers — guiding them past short third and point and even threading one through fine third man — were outstanding, especially with the game in the balance. It was a fabulous effort from Shreyas. His experience and temperament were key to navigating a strong Mumbai Indians attack, which he dismantled by picking his moments and targeting the right bowlers.”
JioStar expert AB de Villiers, known for his outrageous brilliance, hailed Shreyas Iyer’s knock as a masterclass under pressure: “I’m obviously a huge fan. What happened in the game was out of this world, and Shreyas deserves full credit. Under extreme pressure, he delivered when it mattered. That four off Bumrah past the slip cordon — for me, that was the shot of the night. His sixes were clean, no mishits. He stays calm, doesn’t get arrogant or overly emotional — just very level-headed. There are many more runs in him,” AB said.
He reckoned MI had a par score with the bat and were simply outplayed while bowling. “Of course, you want to bowl 120 perfect yorkers, but no team is perfect. Shreyas Iyer, and to some extent Josh Inglis, made the difference. They were outplayed by quality cricket — that’s the beauty of the game,” AB said.
English (US) ·