Could have used spin bowlers well, says Punjab Kings bowling coach Joshi

Even as Punjab Kings spin bowling coach and former Indian cricketer Sunil Joshi was walking for the post-match interaction, he knew what could have turned the match in their favour against Rajasthan Royals during their opening home game of the IPL.

Playing at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Punjab Cricket Association International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, the Kings faced a 50-run defeat — the first of the tournament and at home as well — against the Royals. The match recorded the highest-ever total at this ground, with Royals scoring 205, but what could have stopped them from achieving this feat was proper use of spinners.

“I think we missed a trick, we could have bowled a couple of more spin overs with (Glenn) Maxwell and (Yuzvendra) Chahal. It was a good wicket. It was a field that supported both teams equally,” said Joshi. On the bowling front, Aussie allrounder Maxwell, who has been among wickets in the first two games, bowled only one over, and gave away just six runs. Joshi admitted that Punjab could have used spin bowlers more effectively on the surface. “I think we have to give credit to the opposition for a wonderful batting display. We needed to bat better. We lost two wickets in the first over. That was the concern… 200 is a par score these days. And to get that score, it’s important to have a good power play. But it’s just the beginning, we have a long season ahead,” added Joshi.

Could have approached better: Iyer

Suffering his first loss as skipper, Shreyas Iyer said that the side was not able to execute the plans and gave away 15-20 more runs after opting to bowl first. “To be honest, I was considering around 180-185. That would be good to chase over here. We weren’t able to execute our plans. I’m glad this blip happened early in the tournament. It was a decent pitch, the ball was holding a bit and we were not giving them much pace,” he added.

He also talked about losing early wickets as Jofra Archer struck early for Royals to push the Kings on the back foot. “We could have taken it slower and tried to build partnerships, but lots of learning from this game. There was no dew as we anticipated, but I feel we need to go back to the drawing board and see the videos where we weren’t able to execute with our bowling and batting,” he added.

Finishing among top two: Chahal

King’s bowler Yuzvendra Chahal talked to The Tribune and maintained that the side would finish in the top two. He went a step further, saying the side could even win the title this season. “We are coming in the top two. We have 7-8 options in bowling, while in batting we have 9-10 options. We are a very balanced side. I think it’s a very good sign that the team will be a champion this year. Our focus is on finishing in top two and securing a place in the playoffs,” said Chahal, who is the leading wicket-taker in the history of the IPL with 206 wickets to his name in 163 matches.

He also brushed aside his slow start to the IPL 2025 season, saying his focus remains on making the side win, not individual performances. He also said that he absolutely deserves the price tag of Rs 18 crore. “We have only played three matches so far. The team has won two and my focus is on making the team win. The tournament has just started and I am finding my rhythm. I am enjoying my bowling. If we win the trophy and I don’t take a single wicket, I’ll take that every day,” said Chahal.

Play better next time: Ponting

Head coach Ricky Ponting also held a debrief session with his team in the dressing room after the match and focussed on the importance of individual performances and the learning from the game. “Just think a little bit about your individual game today and see if there is an area that we could tighten up. We have been so good. But I am not going to let go of a moment like this where we cannot continue to learn. Use the future wisely and think about areas where we can do better. When we turn up here next, let’s make sure we play a better game,” said Ponting. The Punjab Kings will now face Chennai Super Kings at the same venue on April 8.

Chandigarh