Punjab Kings' captain Shreyas Iyer encountered unusual criticism following a soft dismissal against Rajasthan Royals, prompting pointed remarks from Sanjay Manjrekar. Manjrekar believed that the condition of the pitch affected more than just the scoreboard. Iyer, who has been in excellent form this season, was dismissed for a mere 10 runs while attempting to attack Jofra Archer during a challenging chase of 206 runs.

Archer had already made an impact in the first over by dismissing Priyansh Arya for a duck. To counter the pressure, Iyer misjudged the length of the delivery and exposed his stumps with an erratic swing, leaving PBKS struggling at 11/2 after just one over. Manjrekar was critical of this decision.

"It was quite difficult for me to witness such a dismissal from Shreyas Iyer. That shot was poor, and it’s not merely about the manner of getting out. A dismissal like that, particularly from an in-form captain, conveys a negative message in the dressing room. While it may not demoralize the team, it certainly does not inspire confidence in their prospects. The impact of that wicket extended beyond just the loss of one player," Manjrekar stated during his analysis on JioHotstar.

Given Iyer's recent performances, including an unbeaten 97 against Gujarat Titans and a stylish 52 not out against Lucknow Super Giants, his early departure was unexpected. However, Rajasthan Royals capitalized on the Kings' top-order vulnerabilities, with Sandeep Sharma dismissing Marcus Stoinis shortly thereafter, leaving the team at 26/3 within four overs.

The only significant resistance came from a determined 88-run partnership between Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell. Wadhera achieved a commendable half-century, but once the duo was dismissed, the Royals' bowlers swiftly dismantled the remaining lineup. Archer returned for a second spell, while Theekshana and Sandeep ensured that there was no late-order resurgence.

RR's dominant win

Previously, it was the duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag who propelled Rajasthan to a total of 205/4, marking the first occasion that Mullanpur witnessed a score exceeding the 200-run threshold. Their explosive batting set the stage, but it was the bowling unit that truly captured the spotlight.

"This Rajasthan Royals team, particularly with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring runs, is beginning to look impressive. They possess a fascinating bowling lineup as well. With Archer, one of the premier new-ball bowlers; Sandeep Sharma, a top specialist for death overs; and players like Maheesh Theekshana excelling in the middle overs, they are starting to make an impact," Manjrekar remarked.

PBKS is now preparing for their upcoming match against Chennai Super Kings on April 8.

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