Irfan Pathan backs Shreyas Iyer after PBKS captain scolds Shashank Singh in Qualifier 2

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan said Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer did nothing wrong when he gave a piece of his mind to Shashank Singh after the conclusion of the second qualifier against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday.

PBKS won the clash by five wickets after Iyer scored an unbeaten knock of 87 runs off just 41 balls in the run-chase of 204. Meanwhile, Shashank Singh was run out for two runs after MI captain Hardik Pandya hit the stumps directly from the mid-on position.

With the game still in the balance, Shashank was casual in his running and fell short of his ground, which didn’t impress Shreyas Iyer. After the game, Iyer was seen exchanging some tough words with his Mumbai teammate.

Irfan Pathan recalled how former Indian captain MS Dhoni scolded players when there was a need to do so.

“Many people are saying that he shouldn’t have gotten that angry. I have played a lot of cricket with MS Dhoni. He is called cool, calm and composed. But he has also scolded many players. When the time comes, you should scold as well,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

Pathan reckons Singh’s schoolboy error angered Shreyas Iyer as he didn’t run hard between the wickets.

“Why was Shreyas Iyer right to react like that? No captain minds if you get out. Try to hit a four or a six, take calculative risks. It is T20 cricket, after all.

“But if you play casual cricket at such a time in the match when victory is close but the mistake can harm the team, that is what Shashank Singh did. He is a very good player, he is doing well. But his casual approach in the run out, that is why Iyer was upset with him and I completely agree with him,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer has decided to bowl first in the IPL 2025 final against RCB.