It was billed as a battle between Shreyas Iyer and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Sadly for the fans and everyone following, it turned out to be a no-contest. This is how we have known Punjab Kings (PBKS) over the years. A team that starts well, but then loses the plot. And today, they lost the plot badly, very badly.
We will never know if Shreyas was extra-charged. What we do know is the wicket was good. Harshit Rana bowled well and picked up the three key top-order wickets after Punjab got off to a flier. Priyansh Arya went for one shot too many and it seemed his inexperience came to the fore. Shreyas slashed hard to see Ramandeep Singh pick a stunner. And then Prabhsimran Singh threw it away after he got a start.
The match turned into a damp squib, but for PBKS, these are alarming signs. Likely back-to-back defeats, after which both the bowling and the batting stand exposed. Ricky Ponting, who many said had the Midas touch as a player and then as Mumbai Indians coach, will have to deliver. He didn’t have much to show for his seven seasons at Delhi Capitals.
With Punjab, he was given a clean slate. Given the history of abject failure – they have made the play-offs just twice in 17 seasons – he was allowed to pick his team. Truth be told, they started well. But now, the question is whether they arrest the slide? If they can, it will indeed be a new Punjab under Shreyas and Ponting. And if they can’t, we will yet again say that players may have changed but the character of the franchise remains the same – one that flatters to deceive.