‘Terrible shot’: Shreyas Iyer’s ‘wrong message to PBKS dressing room’ exposed by ex-India cricketer

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Shreyas Iyer for his dismissal during the IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). Manjrekar stated that Iyer’s careless shot, especially as captain and a key player, sends the wrong message in the Punjab dressing room.

Chasing 206 runs, Punjab lost the wicket of Priyansh Arya on the first ball. Shreyas Iyer hit two fours before being dismissed by Jofra Archer. The star batter attempted a big shot but misjudged it completely. The ball hit the stumps, and Iyer was dismissed for just 10 runs, leaving Punjab Kings at 11/2.

Very Hard for Me to See That Kind of Dismissal of Shreyas Iyer - Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar was disappointed by Shreyas Iyer's dismissal, calling the shot "terrible." He pointed out that such a dismissal from a captain in-form sends a negative message to the dressing room.

“It was actually very hard for me to see that kind of dismissal of Shreyas Iyer. That shot was terrible—and it’s not just about how you get out," Manjrekar was quoted as saying on JioHotstar.

"It’s just that a dismissal like that, especially of the captain in form, sends the wrong message in the dressing room. It might not leave them disheartened, but it certainly doesn’t make them feel upbeat about their own chances. That wicket had more impact than just one batter getting out," he added.

Notably, Shreyas had been in excellent form throughout the IPL season. He scored an unbeaten 97 in their opening match against Gujarat Titans (GT). Iyer then added an unbeaten 52 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Rajasthan Royals Team Is Starting to Look Good - Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar said that Yashasvi Jaiswal's form is a positive sign for Rajasthan Royals. Manjrekar also noted the team's strong bowling combination, highlighting the roles of Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, and Maheesh Theekshana in the match.

“And this Rajasthan Royals team—with Yashasvi Jaiswal getting runs—is starting to look good. They’ve got a very interesting bowling combination as well. In Archer, one of the best new-ball bowlers; in Sandeep Sharma, one of the best death-over specialists; and players like Maheesh Theekshana in the middle overs are beginning to shine," he added.

Punjab Kings to Face Chennai Super Kings in Their Next Match

Rajasthan Royals posted a competitive total of 205/4 in 20 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal (67) and Riyan Parag (43) helped the team reach the first 200+ score at the Mullanpur venue.

In their chase, Punjab Kings suffered a nightmare start. Jofra Archer bowled out Priyansh Arya (0) and Shreyas Iyer (10) in the first over, and Sandeep Sharma dismissed Marcus Stoinis for just 1. Punjab collapsed to 26/3 within four overs.

Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell added an 88-run partnership. However, their fightback ended when the lower order collapsed under pressure. Punjab Kings will aim to bounce back when they face Chennai Super Kings in their next match at the same venue on April 8.

Also read: Not Gautam Gambhir!! KL Rahul thanks this Indian coach for his revival