IPL leaders Punjab hit with reality check after first loss of season

NEW DELHI: Nothing could go wrong for the Punjab Kings in the early part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season but their bowling ​unit was given a reality check on Tuesday as the team ‌suffered their first defeat of the campaign.

The six-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals was Punjab’s first defeat in eight matches, though they continue to lead the 10-team league on 13 points, one ​ahead of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Punjab piled up 222-4 but could ​not defend the total as their pace trio of Arshdeep Singh, ⁠Lockie Ferguson and Marco Jansen leaked a combined 166 in 11.2 overs.

Donovan ​Ferreira (52) and Shubham Dubey (31) closed out an unbroken 77-run partnership off 32 balls as ​Rajasthan triumphed with four balls to spare.

“I think we fell a bit short in our bowling, in terms of execution,” Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer said.

“We had planned to bowl a lot ​of slower ones, pace-off, yorkers. I think we fell a bit short over ​there.

“Also, they had tremendous partnership in the middle, especially by Ferreira and Shubham Dubey coming in ‌and ⁠scoring those crucial runs at the end.”

Iyer said it was becoming increasingly difficult to contain hitters in the IPL’s batter-friendly conditions.

“This is the format where I feel that a lot of players have changed their game and when they come in, ​they go bang-bang ​from ball one.

“It’s ⁠an arduous task for bowlers to come with a certain plan. But at the end of the day, I feel ​it’s all about execution. If you have a certain plan set, ​when ⁠you execute it well, you come out triumphant.”

Punjab bowling coach James Hopes said there was no reason to panic.

“It’s a reality check, and that’s exactly what it is,” Hopes ⁠said.

“It’s ​game eight, and we’ve just lost our first ​game of the IPL, so I’m not going to sit here and say it’s doom and gloom ​in the change room.”