Shreyas Iyer's performance with the bat in Punjab's IPL 2025 opener against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad was so remarkable that his commendable captaincy nearly went unnoticed. Iyer scored an impressive 97 not out off 42 balls, including nine sixes, showcasing a quintessential T20 innings. His selfless decision to encourage Shashank Singh to aim for boundaries as he approached his first IPL century added an extra layer of excitement to the match. However, as is often the case in the IPL, when a team sets a formidable target, such as PBKS's 243/5, the opposing team is likely to mount a strong challenge, which GT certainly did.

The key distinction between the two teams lay in their death bowling. GT struggled against Iyer and Shashank during the final overs, while PBKS excelled in their strategy and execution. Bowlers Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, and Marco Jansen effectively curtailed the big hits from Jos Buttler and Sherfane Rutherford. Much of the success can be attributed to Captain Iyer's astute bowling changes, field placements, and, notably, his decision to introduce Vyshak as the Impact Sub.

While it might have been conventional to select left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar as the Impact Player, given his experience and past performances for PBKS, Iyer and the team's management assessed the match conditions. With significant dew on the field, it would have posed a challenge for Brar to maintain a good grip on the ball, especially with left-handed Rutherford at the crease and Rahul Tewatia yet to come in.

Vyshak, a right-arm pacer, was brought in after the 13th over and delivered three overs at the death, conceding only 28 runs, effectively sealing the match for PBKS.

Did Shreyas Iyer wear an earpiece to talk to Ricky Ponting?

In a discussion on Cricbuzz regarding the effective strategy of PBKS, host Saiyyami Kher highlighted the contributions of head coach Ricky Ponting. 

"We observed captain Shreyas Iyer frequently positioned along the boundary, as Ponting was continuously advising him on where to position himself and to whom to throw the ball," she remarked.

"Do you think he (Iyer) was using an earpiece?" Harsha Bhogle quipped in response.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan emphasized that Iyer deserves equal recognition alongside the PBKS management. 

"I wouldn't underestimate Shreyas's understanding of these tactics. Many teams strategize in advance of the match. He likely collaborated with the bowling coach and the bowlers to analyze the tactical elements. They would have considered employing a wide approach against the batters with a specific field setup," he noted.

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