'Picked wisely at the auction' - Sunil Gavaskar Lauds PBKS Management After Crucial Win vs MI in IPL 2025

After the Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) defeated the Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets in Jaipur on Monday, May 26, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, to secure a top-two finish, Sunil Gavaskar commended the team's management for their player selection at the IPL 2025 (Indian Premier League) mega auction.

Following a decisive seven-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, the Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) demonstrated their mettle by claiming a place in the top two of the IPL points table for the first time in eleven years. Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis both had outstanding fifties to lead PBKS as they chased a goal of 185. They anchored the innings and led their team to a resounding victory.

Sunil Gavaskar Impressed with PBKS:

Under pressure, uncapped players like Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, and Priyansh Arya have stepped up. Josh Inglis and Marco Jansen, two international players, have also made significant contributions in pivotal games. With a game-winning 42-ball 73 against MI, the Australian batsman-wicketkeeper was named Player of the Match.

NDTV Sports cited Gavaskar as stating, "Nobody took Punjab Kings seriously. They have also picked wisely at the auction, where they got a lot of young, uncapped Indian players. They have seen them. They have seen what they have done, where they have done it. There are so many of these state leagues which are happening, but you can't always go by what's happening in the state leagues. The bowling attacks may not always be good."

He further added, "Even then, if somebody like Priyansh Arya hits seven sixes, you know that this guy has talent. Picking the international players too. They have done it really well. Full marks to them. Really happy for them. I told you before the start of the match that a new name will be written on the trophy, well."

Speaking of the intense IPL 2025 match, Punjab Kings easily defeated a target of 185 runs on Monday. Before Shreyas (26*) led his team home with nine balls remaining, Arya hammered 62 runs off 35 balls in addition to Inglis' brilliant half-century.

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