NEW CHANDIGARH: There was something almost theatrical about Shreyas Iyer on the internet on Monday night. No comforting enclosures or meshes to keep ambition in check. Just an open sky over the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium and a batsman in complete command of his range.
Most of the Punjab Kings bowlers tried to beat him but Iyer, these days, is in a different zone. Balls disappeared into the stands regularly. A couple of defensive pushes were offered, perhaps out of politeness, but they seemed like interruptions. Iyer was gearing up to dominate.
There has been a decisive change in Iyer’s batting this season. Its evolution has had to do with both temperament and production. A calmness that supports aggression, a feeling that you know exactly how far you can push without falling.
In that sense, the comparison with Virat Kohli as “master of the chase” no longer seems forced. The model is very similar: absorb the moment, understand the equation, and then bend it to your will. His unbeaten 71 off 36 balls in last Saturday’s record-breaking 265-run chase in Delhi was not just down to clean batting; it was more about control and the ability to remain unflappable under pressure.
A major part of that transformation dates back to his partnership with head coach Ricky Ponting. The Iyer-Ponting axis has made the Punjab Kings believe they can go all the way.
That system has been boosted by the explosive starts provided by Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. Their 116-run Powerplay assault in the chase against DC was an extension of Punjab’s philosophy. Attack early, stretch the game and let Iyer design the finish.
Punjab now return to New Chandigarh for their final home match before moving to Dharamshala and the expectation is to keep their momentum intact against a Rajasthan Royals team that has started to stagnate. The Royals started off with four straight wins, but have since drifted.
PBKS vs RR: head to head
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PBKS vs RR Today IPL Match: Release Report
The surface of the Maharaj Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh has been a batting paradise this season. With an average score of 212 in the first inning, expect another high-scoring encounter. The course offers true bounce and rhythm, allowing shot makers to dominate. Bowlers, especially spinners, may gain some grip later on, but in general, they are likely to favor aggressive batting throughout.
PBKS vs RR IPL Match: New Chandigarh Weather Update
The weather in New Chandigarh for the night clash is expected to be warm and slightly humid, with no interruptions due to rain. Temperatures will range between 28°C and 30°C during match hours, making conditions comfortable for players. Dew could play a role in the second innings, potentially helping the chasing teams.
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PBKS vs RR: Predicted playing XI
Kings of Punjab (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vyshakh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact Player: Arshdeep Singh
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Brijesh Sharma
Impact Player: Ravi Bishnoi
PBKS vs RR: Live Stream Details
The PBKS vs RR clash will take place at the Maharaj Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, starting at 7:30 pm IST. The match will be telecast on Star Sports Network while the live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.
Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals squads
Punjab Kings Team: Prabhsimran Singh (w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshakh, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Nehal Wadhera, Suryansh Shedge, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Ben Dwarshuis, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash, Vishal Nishad
Rajasthan Royals Team: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Adam Milne, Dasun Shanaka, Kuldeep Sen, Sushant Mishra, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kwena Maphaka, Vignesh Puthur, Yash Raj Punja, Aman Rao Perala