Former Punjab Kings coach Tom Moody offered a sharp critique of PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer’s approach during their crushing defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025. PBKS were bundled out for just 101 in 14.1 overs, with Iyer falling to Josh Hazlewood for just 2 runs off 3 balls.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Timeout, Moody suggested Iyer let personal baggage influence his decision-making, especially against Hazlewood, a bowler who has dismissed him multiple times before.
“At times, you need to put your ego in your pocket and just move forward. To me that was the perfect example of not reading the situation – trying to overcome something that has been a darkness in the past instead of just swallowing your pride and just moving on by just accumulating,” said Moody.
He added that Iyer should have simply tried to play out Hazlewood and focused on targeting the rest of the attack.
“You only had to see Hazlewood out. It was a simple thing – see him out and look to dissect the rest of their attack. The first ball he played and missed – the perfect line that you'd expect Hazlewood to bowl. He sort of played at it, but didn't really want to play at it. And then, that third ball he got out. To me, he totally misread the game situation and his own situation. Yes, he would be aware that Hazlewood has had him a few times in the past. He would know the exact numbers,” Tom Moody said.
RCB crush PBKS to enter IPL 2025 final
Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal in the fourth over set the tone for Punjab Kings' batting collapse in the all-important Qualifier 1 in New Chandigarh. Josh Hazlewood struck twice, removing Iyer and Azmatullah Omarzai, and finished with figures of 3/21. Suyash Sharma also picked up 3 wickets as PBKS folded for 101.
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In reply, Phil Salt led the charge with a blistering 56* off 27 balls as RCB chased down the target in just 10 overs with 8 wickets to spare. Hazlewood was Cricinfo’s MVP, while Suyash Sharma was named Player of the Match for his 3/17.
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PBKS’s top order failed to offer any resistance: four of their top six were dismissed for single-digit scores, including Iyer and Josh Inglis. Iyer’s inability to anchor the innings in a knockout match has now drawn criticism from multiple corners, with Moody’s comments adding to the scrutiny.
PBKS will now face MI in Qualifier Two, and the winner of this game will take on RCB in the final on June 3.
