"Shreyas Iyer Narrowly Misses Fifty in LSG Rout; PBKS' Nehal Wadhera Admits, 'That Wasn't the Plan...'"

 "Shreyas Iyer Narrowly Misses Fifty in LSG Rout; PBKS' Nehal Wadhera Admits, 'That Wasn't the Plan...'"

After the match, Nehal Wadhera was questioned about deliberately playing a dot ball to help Shreyas Iyer reach his fifty after the scores were level. However, the young batter denied any such intention, stating it wasn’t the plan.

Wadhera made an immediate impact on his Punjab Kings debut, smashing an unbeaten 43 off just 25 balls against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium. Coming in as the Impact Player, the left-hander dominated LSG’s bowlers, making the chase effortless for PBKS. His blistering knock, laced with four sixes and three fours, not only sealed the win but also boosted Punjab’s net run rate by finishing the chase with 22 balls to spare.

He formed an unbeaten 67-run partnership with skipper Shreyas Iyer, who remained unbeaten on 52, marking his second consecutive half-century of the season. However, for a moment, it seemed Wadhera’s aggressive onslaught might deny Iyer his well-deserved fifty.

The left-handed batter took on Shardul Thakur, hammering two sixes and a four to collect 16 runs from the over when Punjab needed just 17 for victory. On the final delivery, he guided the ball toward backward point, resulting in a dot. In the following over, Iyer sealed the win in style, smashing a six to bring up his fifty and take Punjab across the finish line.

After the match, Wadhera was questioned about deliberately playing a dot ball to help Shreyas Iyer reach his fifty after the scores were level. However, the youngster dismissed the suggestion, saying it wasn’t intentional.

"That wasn't the plan, actually. I was looking to play the shot," Wadhera told the broadcasters.

He went on to praise his teammates for their collective effort, which helped Punjab secure their second consecutive victory.

"We really needed this win. Shreyas bhai and the entire team performed exceptionally well, especially the bowling unit. Prabhsimran's batting was outstanding. We're delighted to secure this victory today," he said.

Wadhera, who spent the last two seasons with Mumbai Indians, admitted he wasn’t too nervous about his Punjab debut, mainly because he wasn’t sure if he would get a chance to play.

"I wasn’t feeling too nervous, but I didn’t even know I was playing today. I only brought one kit. Later, I found out I was in the XI. Once I stepped in to bat, I knew I had to play my shots," he said.

"Shreyas Iyer Was Guiding Me Throughout..."

The 24-year-old heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer’s batting and leadership. He also shared that the skipper’s advice from the other end during their partnership played a crucial role in his approach.

"Shreyas bhai's batting was truly remarkable, and full credit goes to his leadership and the way he boosts our confidence. Throughout our partnership, he kept encouraging me to play my natural game and go with the flow," he said.

Wadhera also spoke highly of Punjab head coach Ricky Ponting, calling him the best mentor he has learned under.

"He's definitely one of the best coaches I've worked with. I've never heard a negative word from him. When a coach gives you such positive feedback, it really lifts your confidence," he concluded.