IPL 2026 – ‘We dropped too many catches’ – Shreyas Iyer on PBKS letting SRH game slip past their hands

In total, PBKS made three drops – and one missed stumping chance – in the first innings, as Sunrisers raced away to 235 for 4. When asked if the total was too high on this surface after the game, Iyer said: “I think it was a bit too much because we dropped many catches at the start, and we could have easily [reduced] their score by 30-40 runs. I guess because the wicket kept getting slower and the cutters were holding up a bit. So, we weren’t comprehensive enough on the field, nor in bowling, nor in batting. So, I think they played comprehensive cricket and they showed us how to win the match.”

Yuzvendra Chahal was particularly unlucky during his spell of 1 for 32, with a dropped catch and a missed stumping off his deliveries in the span of a single over. In total, Chahal has created 16 catching chances this IPL, of which 8 have been dropped (catching efficiency of 50%). Among 61 bowlers to have created four or more chances this year, no bowler has had a higher percentage of catches dropped.

“[Chahal] bowled beautifully today without luck,” Iyer said. “Certainly, the way he bowled, he was fearless and his attitude was fantastic against left-handers… I asked him to be attacking, especially when the new batsmen were in, because they were on the charge right from ball one. And it was crucial to get wickets at that point of time. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to take catches. I think that was the biggest setback for us in today’s game.”

Cooper Connolly was the lone batter who stuck around in a stop-and-start PBKS innings. He made an unbeaten 59-ball 107, which is also his first century in professional cricket. “I mean, he’s phenomenal,” Iyer said. “His mindset is top-notch and the character he brings onto the field. It’s something that all the players can learn from him. Apart from that, I feel that he’s got a knack of scoring big runs in pressure situations. He has done it in the past and today was the right example.”

PBKS, who have lost their third match in a row, now get a five-day break before they take on Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala, on May 11.

“We [have] got to go back and reflect on things that we didn’t do well in the last three matches. And see to it that we come back strong.”

Source link