'Playing not to impress': Shreyas Iyer after CSK vs PBKS IPL match

New Delhi: Punjab Kings maintained their perfect start to IPL 2026 with a commanding five-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday night, chasing down 210 with eight balls to spare and vaulting to the top of the points table.

After being inserted, CSK rode a sparkling 73 from 20-year-old Ayush Mhatre and late-order impetus from Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube to finish on 209 for five. A second-wicket stand between Mhatre and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad provided the early platform, yet PBKS struck at crucial intervals to keep the total within reach.

The reply was ignited by opener Priyansh Arya, who blitzed 39 from 11 deliveries to rock the home side. Prabhsimran Singh and Cooper Connolly kept the tempo high before captain Shreyas Iyer calmed the chase with an unbeaten half-century, marked by calculated placement rather than brute force. Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis provided the closing flourish as Punjab coasted home.

Speaking after the win, Iyer revealed the philosophy driving the side. “Well, it's not planned, honestly speaking, but we've just decided in the dressing room that whatever happens, we are going to play a brand of cricket which is to impress each other, not others outside,” he said.

He lauded the top-order burst that set the tone. “Priyansh and Prab doing the job at the start… it's phenomenal to see them giving us that start and it stabilizes the rhythm for us,” Iyer noted. “Getting 39 out of 11 balls, that's the start we require, especially when you're chasing 208.”

On his bowling choices, the skipper kept faith in experience. “Usually we know how impressive he is over the years. And he's probably one of the best bowlers in the IPL so far. So whenever I'm in doubt, I do that.”

The result leaves Chennai Super Kings searching for answers after back-to-back defeats, while Punjab Kings have announced themselves as early-season pace-setters with two wins from two.