IPL 2026: ‘Shreyas Iyer’s century was like Petrichor’ - Saba Karim praises PBKS captain’s match-winning knock
Shreyas Iyer scored 101* runs in 51 balls.
3 Min Read
Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer after the Punjab Kings captain produced a stunning unbeaten century to revive his side’s playoff hopes in the 2026 Indian Premier League. Karim compared Iyer’s maiden IPL ton to Petrichor, a refreshing arrival after a long wait, saying the innings came at the perfect moment for Punjab and their fans after weeks of frustration.
Iyer smashed an unbeaten 101 off just 51 balls to guide Punjab Kings to a memorable victory over Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. Chasing 197, PBKS were in trouble at 22/2 before Iyer steadied the innings with composure and then shifted gears brilliantly, dismantling the bowling attack with a calculated and aggressive approach.
“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.
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Karim said the innings stood out not only for the breathtaking strokeplay but also for the maturity and awareness shown by Iyer throughout the chase. The knock came in a high-pressure encounter with Punjab Kings needing a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. Karim felt the match situation added even greater value to the innings, describing it as one of the finest knocks of Iyer’s 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.
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However, Punjab Kings still face an anxious wait in the playoff race, with their qualification hopes now dependent on the outcome of the clash between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium. Rajasthan need a victory to eliminate Punjab from contention and keep the playoff battle alive.
Speaking about the high-pressure encounter, Karim said Rajasthan would draw confidence from their recent performances heading into the crucial fixture. He also highlighted the depth in Rajasthan’s batting lineup and the batting-friendly conditions at the Wankhede as key factors that could work in their favour.
“It is a massive game for Rajasthan Royals, but the way they played in the previous match should give them a lot of confidence heading into this encounter against Mumbai Indians,” said Karim.
“The Wankhede surface generally produces high-scoring games, and Rajasthan have plenty of firepower at the top of the order. Players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Donovan Ferreira are all looking in good touch. Rajasthan Royals will feel hopeful about their chances in such an important contest,” he concluded.
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