![Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1776407823455_ViratKohliandShreyasIyer.jpg?type=hq)
Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer [Source: AFP]
Besides throwing his body on the line with an absolute superhuman catch, Shreyas Iyer has been the match-winner with the bat for Punjab Kings as well. In the MI vs PBKS clash at Wankhede Stadium on April 16, Shreyas Iyer scored a valiant 66 runs off just 35 deliveries to help Punjab steer a 196-run chase.
Shreyas was heroic with the bat as he steered the early scare alongside opener Prabhsimran Singh, and this quality of chasing in nervy situations was praised by former India cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra, as he likened him to Virat Kohli.
Shreyas Iyer Heroics Help PBKS Seal Tough Chase
Iyer hit four sixes in his innings while also hammering five boundaries, batting at a strike rate of 188.57. Iyer's knock came at a crucial moment after Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly were dismissed early, leaving Punjab Kings reeling at 45 for 2 at the end of 4.3 overs.
Pairing with Prabhsimran Singh, who scored 80 runs at a strike rate of 205.13, Shreyas added 139 runs together off just 67 deliveries to make the Mumbai Indians bowlers struggle. As soon as Iyer entered the crease, the chase for Punjab became much easier to guide through.
Aakash Chopra Hails Shreyas Iyer As New Virat Kohli
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has hailed the efficiency of Shreyas Iyer in IPL chases, where he almost resembles Virat Kohli with the bat while chasing. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra shared how Iyer is almost similar to Kohli in terms of chasing.
“Iyer is the new chase master. We talk about Virat Kohli. If we are attaching someone else’s name with him, it’s an achievement in itself, but the truth is that his numbers are like his. He has an average of 65 and a strike rate of 180 in chases in the last two years,” he said.
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How Shreyas have Fared In IPL Chases?
Aakash Chopra further revealed how Iyer impacted with the bat even though he got dismissed later. His acceleration in the powerplay and the middle overs helped Punjab Kings ease off the pressure of the middle-order battles.
“He goes after finishing the match. He got out this time, but the match was over. He had gotten out against Chennai as well, but the match was over. He has gotten out one or two times for sure, or else the average would have been 80. Shreyas is not knocking on the door. He is going to break it down. He is batting like that,” he observed.
Notably, for the Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer has averaged 65.42 with the bat while chasing. His overall IPL average as a chaser stands at 40.93, with a strike rate of 137.82. However, he has not been dismissed in 18 of 65 matches. In rest of them, most of his dismissals have come against pace bowlers.
MI’s Horrible Run Continues
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians again bore the brunt of a loss with four consecutive defeats in IPL 2026. Jasprit Bumrah remained wicketless, conceding 41 runs in his four-over spell, while Deepak Chahar became the most expensive, giving away 45 runs from just 2.3 overs without picking a wicket.
With these defeats, MI now remain stagnant at the ninth position on the points table, while Punjab Kings have moved to the top, winning four out of their five matches with a positive net run rate of +1.067.
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