'We have lost the battle, but...': Gutted Shreyas Iyer breaks silence after PBKS' humiliating defeat against RCB in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025

'We have lost the battle, but...': Gutted Shreyas Iyer breaks silence after PBKS' humiliating defeat against RCB in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025
Shreyas Iyer of Punjab Kings looks dejected following the team's defeat in the 2025 IPL Qualifier Finals match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at New PCA Stadium on May 29, 2025, in Chandigarh, India

Story Highlights:

RCB beat PBKS by eight wickets.

RCB becomes the first team to seal berth IPL 2025 final.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer believes that the side lost a lot of wickets during their Qualifier 1 clash of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh. The Bengaluru-based franchise bundled out PBKS on just 101 runs to go boom and bust in the qualifier 1 clash of the tournament. 

The RCB pace trio of Josh Hazlewood (3/21), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/17) and Yash Dayal (2/26) exploited the conditions well before leg-spinner Suyash Sharma (3/17) made it worse for the opposition. Iyer said that the team had a good plan before the clash, but the side was unable to execute their plan on the field while facing RCB. 

"Not a day to forget, but got to go back to the drawing board. We lost a lot of wickets (in the first innings.) There's a lot to go back and study on. I am not doubting on my decisions to be honest. Whatever we did in terms of planning, outside of the ground whatever (planning) we did, I think it was on point. Just that we couldn't execute it on the field" said Shreyas Iyer in the post-match presentation. 

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After losing Qualifier 1, the Punjab-based franchise will now feature in the Qualifier 2 clash of the tournament and they have to win that clash to seal their berth for the finale. Considering the chances, PBKS skipper said that the side have lost the batter but not the war. 

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Can't even blame the bowlers, as it was a low total to defend. We got to work on our batting, especially on this wicket. In all the games we have played here there has been some variable bounce. We can't give such reasons because we are professionals at the end of the day and we have to bat according to the situation and we have to live up to it. We have lost the battle, but not the war.

RCB becomes the first finalist of the IPL 2025, and on the other hand, PBKS will now have to win Qualifier 2, which will take place on June 1 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. They will face the winner of the Eliminator clash, which will take place between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans at the New PCA Stadium in Ahmedabad.