Arya’s blitz and Iyer’s astute knock help Punjab Kings rule despite Mhatre’s show

By K.R. Nayar

Mumbai. In a clash of two kings – Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), PBKS won by five wickets with eight balls to spare inside Chennai’s fortress. The victory sent out a message that PBKS now looks stronger than CSK, who were once the kings of the IPL having won the title five times. Through this royal duel, PBKS has announced that they are busy recording new chapters in IPL history.

The beauty of this clash was not just PBKS chasing down a daunting target of 210 and recording their ninth successful chase of over 200 runs – the most by any team in IPL history – but also the show put on by two rising stars. PBKS’ Priyansh Arya walked away with the man of the match award through an 11-ball knock of 39 runs. He proved that this award can be won in just 11 balls too. Then there was 18-year-old Chennai’s Ayush Mhatre, who top-scored with 73 runs. The cherry on the victory cake was undoubtedly Shreyas Iyer’s captain’s knock of 50 off 29 balls – a knock played when the chase threatened to wobble and when his team needed quick runs.

Priyansh Arya's knock.

To see Iyer, whom I have trailed since he was a youngster, now stand tall as a modern-day astute king among kings was deeply satisfying. He is not just leading a team; he is quietly shaping the next generation.  He is an inspiration not only for Arya but for Mhatre too. Arya looks up to him when he plays in the IPL, and Mhatre when he plays for Mumbai. Incidentally, in October 2024, Mhatre and Iyer had together recorded a 200-run partnership against Maharashtra, with Mhatre scoring 174 and Iyer hitting 142.

What was great about Arya’s knock was his fearlessness. He picked gaps with the confidence of a seasoned professional who has been doing this with perfection regularly for years. He played his strokes with little hesitation. To dominate the bowling in Chennai and provide a whirlwind start speaks volumes about the potential in him.

Shreyas Iyer... astute captain's knock

Arya’s boldness was complemented by his skipper Iyer. His half-century absorbed the pressure after a few wickets fell. He ensured his team did not lose their way or focus. It was a captain’s knock in the truest sense, since it was played with control, awareness of the run rate, and breathtaking, well-timed shots. One felt that if Arya was the spark, Iyer’s knock was the steady flame that helped Punjab walk away with a swagger.

Ayush Mhatre on reaching his half century

Though Arya and Iyer sparkled, Mhatre’s knock, which gave Chennai a total of over 200, was brilliant. This boy, who has chased his dream by travelling 80 kilometres one way by train from a distant suburb in Mumbai, Virar, to Wankhede, to sharpen his skills, showed how he can carry the burden of a reputed team’s batting on his young shoulders. The elegance and confidence with which he plays revealed that one can expect many more such knocks from him. He carried the hopes of the entire Chennai fan base, and had his team won, he would surely have won the player of the match award.

Arya and Mhatre’s performances are an announcement that they are ready for the big stage. They are both in the fast lane, accelerating towards wearing the India cap soon. This match had an interesting message that kings may rise and fall, but the game will never stop producing new princes ready to rule.