Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer remained cautious after suffering a hand injury during their IPL 2026 opener against Gujarat Titans in Mullanpur, even as his side secured a three-wicket win. Iyer was struck on the wrist at the non-striker’s end during the chase, prompting concern in the dugout as physios rushed out to attend to him. Despite visible discomfort, he continued briefly before being dismissed, while PBKS held their nerve to complete a tense chase.
Iyer later offered a guarded update on the injury, choosing not to make definitive claims about his condition. “I would say it is nice. It is the same as it was before. Don’t want to jinx it, hopefully everything will come out all right,” he said. The cautious tone reflects recent setbacks, with the PBKS captain only just returning to action after a prolonged injury layoff that disrupted his rhythm and match fitness.
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CONNOLLY STEPS UP
Punjab’s win was powered by debutant Cooper Connolly, who produced a composed 72 off 44 balls under pressure. Walking in during a tricky phase, the young Australian combined composure with clean hitting to anchor the chase. His ability to pick lengths early and attack quality bowlers stood out, particularly a backfoot six off Rashid Khan that drew praise from his captain.
“Some of the shots he played were surreal to watch. The backfoot six off Rashid Khan to hit them so cleanly was phenomenal,” Iyer said. He also credited Connolly’s awareness in managing the chase despite wickets falling at the other end.
“I was focused on my hand inside, icing it. Then suddenly, we lost two wickets back-to-back. These things happen in IPL. You have to be calm and composed. Cooper was there, he was well set,” Iyer added.
Earlier, PBKS’ bowlers had laid the platform. Yuzvendra Chahal (2/28) controlled the middle overs effectively, while Vijaykumar Vyshak impressed with 3/34. Iyer praised Vyshak’s temperament, calling him “a big match player” capable of delivering in key moments.
INJURY CONCERN REMAINS
Iyer revealed that Punjab adapted quickly to the conditions after recognising the nature of the surface. “After the third over, we realised the wicket was playing slow. We decided to bowl slower ones into the wicket and make the ball old early,” he said.
He also noted Gujarat Titans’ aggressive field placements early in his innings. “I just told Shubman that it is something I haven’t seen before. But it is good to see captains being aggressive,” he added.
Punjab Kings now face a quick turnaround, with their next match scheduled against Chennai Super Kings on Friday, April 3 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Iyer’s fitness will be closely monitored, especially given his recent return from a spleen injury that had sidelined him for nearly two months last year.
Having only just regained rhythm, PBKS will hope their captain’s latest injury concern remains minor as they look to build momentum early in the tournament.
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