Watch: Not Shreyas Iyer! Arshdeep Singh picks Vijaykumar Vyshak as Punjab's Impact Sub

Punjab Kings fast bowler Arshdeep Singh showed a sample of his cleverness during the match against the Gujarat Titans. It was due to Arshdeep's quick thinking that right-arm quick Vijaykumar Vyshak was roped in as an Impact sub.

The move turned out to be a game-changing one as Vyshak's less expensive overs derailed the Titans' momentum. However, it was not captain Shreyas Iyer who decided the team's Impact Player, as Arshdeep Singh made the call.

During the 13th over of the Gujarat Titans' innings, Arshdeep Singh picked up the vital wicket of Sai Sudharsan. Left-hander Sherfane Rutherford replaced him at the crease, and Arshdeep signalled for Vijaykumar Vyshak to be brought as the Impact sub.

The left-arm pacer took Vyshak's name and even gestured an action suggesting that he is talking about right-arm pacer Vyshak, who came in to bowl the 15th over of the game and turned things around for his team.

Also read: "Ashutosh Sharma doesn't know how to bat"- Shocking story leaked after Vizag heroics

Watch: Arshdeep Singh picks Vijaykumar Vyshak as Impact Sub

Most important moment from yesterday's PBKS vs GT match.
Thanks to Arshdeep for his quick thinking. pic.twitter.com/zce989XCdL

— Bishontherockz (@BishOnTheRockx) March 26, 2025

Why did Arshdeep Singh pick Vijaykumar Vyshak as Impact Sub?

After Rutherford arrived at the crease, Arshdeep was quick to realise that Vijaykumar Vyshak's balls going away from the left-hander would prove to be difficult to handle for Rutherford. Till then, Punjab had two left-arm pacers in the form of Arshdeep and Marco Jansen in the Playing XI.

However, Vyshak's arrival brought some variety to the attack. Both Arshdeep and Jansen would bring the ball into the left-hander, which would have made it easier for Rutherford to play his shots through the leg side.

At the start of the over, Arshdeep Singh realised that the ball was reverse-swinging after he put saliva on the ball. He felt that Vyshak's reverse-swinging balls away from the left-hander would be difficult to handle for the batter, and the plan worked.

Sherfane Rutherford's initial struggles cost GT

Sherfane Rutherford struggled for his initial balls as he found it tough to get the ball past the boundary line. He missed quite a few balls that were even full tosses, which proved to be the difference in the end.

Vyshak's first two overs went for just 10 runs and derailed all the momentum that the Titans were carrying. His figures of 0-28 might not look significant, but they played a role in his team's victory.

Rutherford could score just 23 runs off his first 18 balls. While he gained momentum towards the end, it was already too late. The left-hander was dismissed for 46 off 28 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes.

Gujarat Titans fell 11 runs short of the target as they were reduced to 232-5. Captain Shreyas Iyer was adjudged Player of the Match for his fine knock of 97* off 42 balls. Punjab started their campaign with a much important win against a team that has a good home record.