Kolkata: In a match dominated by explosive batting from both teams, fast bowlers often get overlooked, but Vijaykumar Vyshak managed to shine in this scenario.

Brought in as an Impact Player while the Gujarat Titans were trying to catch up with a daunting run rate, Vyshak had three overs to make an impact. The outfield was quick, a new ball was in play, and dew was starting to settle in. Nevertheless, Vyshak stuck to his strategy of bowling full and wide.

While the scoreboard shows he gave away 28 runs in those three overs—considered pricey in T20 terms—his performance was crucial in the context of the game, especially since the Titans needed over 15 runs per over at that point. Vyshak effectively slowed down the scoring with his wide yorkers, making the target seem out of reach for the Titans.

A key factor was that 15 of the 18 balls he bowled were aimed at left-handers Sherfane Rutherford and Rahul Tewatia, which allowed him to create angles that forced the batters to chase the ball. Even though some deliveries were called wide, Vyshak largely maintained his lines, successfully limiting the Titans' scoring opportunities.

Arshdeep Singh, who bowled the final over for Punjab Kings, later shared, “The idea was straightforward—force them to hit to the off side. It’s not going to be easy for them to do that. If they manage a good shot, just applaud and move on to the next one. I’m really proud of Vyshak; he’s been working hard in practice and executing his yorkers effectively, which showed in the match.”

While wide yorkers have been around for a while, the importance of wider yorkers is growing, especially since modern batters tend to shuffle across the stumps more often.

With left-handed Marco Jansen directing the ball away from right-handed Jos Buttler and Vyshak doing the same against Rutherford, the Kings effectively implemented their wide yorker strategy, restricting the Titans to just seven boundaries in the last six overs, despite needing more than double that.

The only drawback of this approach is the risk of bowling a wide, which adds an extra delivery. However, Vyshak, Jansen, and Arshdeep were so consistent during that final phase that even their follow-up deliveries were right on target.

Arshdeep explained, “The plan was to miss wide rather than on the stumps. Dew can make it tricky, but we aimed to bowl as wide as possible. Even if it slips to a full toss, it’s still tough for them to hit because it’s out of their reach.”

While Jansen and Arshdeep have more experience, Vyshak’s ability to hit that line just four years into his domestic career suggests either extensive practice or a natural talent for it.

“It’s tough coming in as an impact player and nailing those yorkers,” said Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill afterward. “It’s never easy for someone who’s been sitting on the bench for nearly 15 overs. But I have to give credit to them for the way they executed their yorkers.”

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