New Chandigarh, April 11 – Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer set the tone for ending the 19-year trophy drought after leading his team to a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 17th match of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
"This is the year we are aiming for the trophy. It will require a lot of effort," Iyer said after being named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 69.
Chasing a challenging total of 220, PBKS got off to a blistering start with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh putting pressure on the SRH bowlers. The duo helped the team reach 93/0 in the Powerplay, putting the opposition under early pressure.
Iyer, who came in after the wickets fell, paced his innings well. He took his time to settle before accelerating at the right moment to keep the chase on track. "We had a phenomenal start. It was magnificent to watch, proper cricketing shots," he said.
Despite the strong start, Iyer acknowledged that the conditions were challenging and required composure. "It wasn't easy. I had to give myself some time, and thankfully, it worked out," he added.
PBKS briefly lost momentum in the middle overs, but Iyer stitched a crucial partnership with Nehal Wadhera before finishing the chase alongside Shashank Singh. The team eventually reached the target with seven balls to spare.
Praising Shashank's brilliant bowling, which took wickets of Abhishek and Head, Iyer added, "All of us came together, and Shashank approached me. I needed someone who bowls at 120 kmph. He lived up to his expectations. Kudos to him and his thought process."
Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 219 on the board after a strong start from Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. However, the PBKS bowlers pulled things back in the latter half to keep the target within reach.
Iyer stressed the importance of maintaining the same approach going forward. "We want to maintain the same rhythm going forward. All of us know that we have the skills. The openers don't need to curb their instincts. It's easy for us. We've been magnificent with our work ethic. I am very ecstatic. You need to be in the present. Ricky also takes a lot of importance in this."
With this win, PBKS remain unbeaten this season. They now have seven points from four matches, with one game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) abandoned due to rain. The 2025 runners-up will now face the Mumbai Indians on April 16 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.