Pressure moments often bring out the smartest strategies and that’s exactly what happened when Vijaykumar Vyshak and Shreyas Iyer combined to stop CSK’s Ayush Mhatre during a high-scoring clash.
The Punjab Kings pacer revealed that with Ayush Mhatre batting aggressively, the plan was to bowl wide yorkers and force him to play on the off side, away from his strong scoring areas like long-on, mid-wicket and square leg.
Vijaykumar Vyshak’s spell had its ups and downs. He bowled his first over in the fifth, conceding 10 runs, including a six from Ayush Mhatre. In his second over (11th), Ayush Mhatre struck another boundary. By the time Vijaykumar Vyshak returned for his third over in the 13th, Ayush Mhatre was cruising on 69 off 41 balls.
Ayush Mhatre hit yet another four but on the very next ball, the plan worked. Trying to hit against the strategy, he was caught by Yuzvendra Chahal at short third, ending a dangerous innings.
Vijaykumar Vyshak admitted that although a few boundaries were conceded, keeping the run rate around 10 runs per over was key on a flat T20 pitch. He credited Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, calling him a smart captain who planned it well while the bowlers focused on execution.
Overall, Vijaykumar Vyshak finished with 2 wickets for 38 runs in 4 overs, also dismissing Sarfaraz Khan who was batting aggressively on 32 off 12 balls.
Punjab Kings now carry strong momentum, having won two out of two matches under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. Looking ahead, Vijaykumar Vyshak remained cautious about facing Kolkata Knight Riders. He acknowledged their strong batting lineup and said the team would rely on coaches, analysts and preparation to plan for the next challenge.
It was a perfect example of how smart thinking and calm execution can change the game.
