Former India cricketer Saba Karim praised Shreyas Iyer after the Punjab Kings captain scored a brilliant unbeaten century in the 2026 Indian Premier League. Iyer’s knock helped Punjab Kings stay alive in the playoff race with an important win over Lucknow Super Giants.
Iyer smashed an unbeaten 101 runs from just 51 balls at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. Punjab Kings were under pressure at 22/2 while chasing 197. However, Iyer played a calm and attacking innings to guide his team to victory.
Karim compared the innings to Petrichor, the smell that comes after rain on dry ground. He said the knock came at the perfect time for Punjab Kings fans after a difficult season.
Karim praises Iyer’s match-winning knock
“I was trying to find the right word to describe this innings, and the one that came to mind was ‘petrichor’, the scent of raindrops on dry land. That is what this innings would have felt like for Punjab Kings and their fans,” Karim said on JioHotstar.
Karim also praised Iyer for showing maturity and understanding the pressure of the situation. He felt the innings was one of the best knocks of Iyer’s IPL career.
“The captain had to step up at a crucial stage of the tournament, and he found the perfect platform to deliver. There was aggression but also control. There was intent, but at the same time, a clear understanding of the match situation,” said Karim.
“The manner in which he constructed the innings was extremely impressive. He has scored centuries before, but this could well be one of the finest knocks of his career because of the context and the quality of execution. It was an almost flawless innings from Shreyas Iyer,” he added.
Punjab Kings now wait for the result of the match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals to know their playoff fate.
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