It was a first heartbreak for Punjab Kings this season. Chasing in excess of 200 against Rajasthan Royals, the Shreyas Iyer-led team lost by a massive 50 runs, where all the batters failed, big time. But only left-hander Nehal Wadhera with his first fifty for his new side, looked like taking his side to the finish line. The 24-year-old came up with an innings that could just establish his name, or rather make him the one to watch out for in IPL 2025 and beyond.
Nehal Wadhera Wages Lone Battle for PBKS
In this one, on Saturday, he scored 62 from 41 deliveries, hitting four fours and three maximums. There was a time when he was batting with Glenn Maxwell (30), and had brought the equation to 75 runs from 31 deliveries; that when PBKS were reduced to 43/4 in 6.2 overs and their main batters — Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer and Marcus Stoinis back in the hut.
NEHAL WADHERA – THE ROCKSTAR OF PBKS BATTING UNIT.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 5, 2025
– A 32 ball fifty by Wadhera.pic.twitter.com/gjBQaXYVNv
The stage was set for Wadhera to shine in this match. He had earned his right to bat above Maxwell, and had impressed with his match-winning 43 from 25 deliveries. And he did just that. While the other batters failed to score quickly, he got the big shots going and also kept the scoreboard ticking with ones and twos.
Can be Batting Mainstay for Team in IPL 2025
In this season of the IPL, in two matches he averages 105 and has a strike-rate of 159, his best in all his three seasons combined. Overall in the league, he has 455 runs at an average of 28.43, with three fifties and a strike-rate of 143. In just two matches, he has created a space for himself in the team, where the management can look to groom him as a match-winner.
Yes, it will always be a fight to shine over and above the stars that PBKS has, but then it is all about capitalising, when the opportunity comes, just like he did against RR. With this form, he might just end up winning a few matches for PBKS.
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