Majarekar Criticizes Iyer's Dismissal Against RR, Calls it a Negative Example for the Dressing Room in IPL 2025

New Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu):  Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his thoughts on Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal against Rajasthan Royals, emphasizing the negative impact it could have on the Punjab Kings' dressing room. Manjrekar stated that the manner in which Iyer got out sent a "wrong message" to the team. While chasing a target of 206, Iyer attempted a lofty shot off Jofra Archer’s bowling but completely misjudged it, leading to his stumps being shattered. The dismissal left Iyer with just 10 runs, and Punjab Kings were quickly reduced to 11/2 within the first over of their chase. Iyer had been in outstanding form earlier in the tournament, with an unbeaten 97 against Gujarat Titans and a knock of 52* against Lucknow Super Giants. However, his dismissal against RR was a sharp contrast.

Manjrekar reflected on the dismissal, saying, "It was really tough for me to see Shreyas Iyer get out that way. That shot was dreadful—and it’s not just about how he got out. The bigger issue is that such a dismissal, especially from a captain in form, sends the wrong message to the dressing room. While it may not dishearten the team completely, it certainly doesn’t boost their morale. That wicket had a bigger impact than just one player being dismissed." Rajasthan Royals set a challenging total of 205/4 in their innings, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag contributing significantly. PBKS had a disastrous start to their chase, with Archer bowling out both Priyansh Arya (0) and Shreyas Iyer (10) in the opening over. Sandeep Sharma then removed Marcus Stoinis for just one, leaving Punjab Kings struggling at 26/3 after four overs.

Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell tried to revive the chase with an 88-run partnership, with Wadhera bringing up his half-century. However, their resistance was short-lived, and Sandeep, Maheesh Theekshana, and Archer wrapped up the lower order to secure a comfortable victory for Rajasthan Royals. Commenting on RR’s strength, Manjrekar added, "Rajasthan Royals, with Yashasvi Jaiswal in great form, are starting to look formidable. Their bowling combination is impressive—Archer is one of the best new-ball bowlers, Sandeep Sharma excels in death overs, and Maheesh Theekshana is shining in the middle overs." Former Australian captain Michael Clarke also analyzed Iyer’s dismissal and Punjab’s overall performance. "Rajasthan Royals did well to reach 200 runs—that was a solid total. Punjab Kings might have been disappointed they allowed that many. But the first ball from Jofra Archer set the tone for Rajasthan. It was a stunning delivery."

Clarke continued, "Iyer followed it with two fantastic cover drives, but then the fast bounce seemed to get him on the back foot. The next ball, he stepped away and played a poor shot, getting his stumps shattered." He also pointed out that three wickets in the powerplay made it difficult for Punjab Kings, praising Rajasthan's strong start with both bat and ball. Clarke concluded, "Rajasthan Royals made a great start, and despite Shreyas winning the toss and opting to chase with dew expected, it didn’t arrive, which played in Rajasthan’s favor." PBKS will look to learn from this defeat and focus on a strong comeback when they face Chennai Super Kings on April 8