Nehal Wadhera Shines as Surprise Impact Sub, Guides PBKS to Victory

Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Nehal Wadhera was taken by surprise when he was selected to play against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 1 at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

The 22-year-old came in as an impact substitute after the 19th over of the first innings and delivered a stellar performance, scoring an unbeaten 43 off 25 balls to guide PBKS to a successful chase of 172.

Wadhera’s Reaction to His Selection

After his match-winning performance, Wadhera admitted that he was unaware of his selection before the game, which worked in his favor as it helped him avoid overthinking.

“I didn’t know I would be playing. I only brought one kit because I was sure I wouldn’t be in the XI. Normally, I carry two–one for batting and another for fielding. I even came in full sleeves. Sometimes, things work in your favour. If I had known earlier, I might have overthought it…this was one of those days when I was lucky that I did not know that I would be playing, and it turned out to be lucky for me,” he said in the post-match press conference.

PBKS had acquired Wadhera for Rs 4.20 crore in the mega auction after he was released by Mumbai Indians (MI).

Ricky Ponting’s Role in Wadhera’s Inclusion

Wadhera also revealed how PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting surprised him with the decision.

“Ricky came up to me and said, ‘If we bowl first, you’ll be in the eleven.’ I was a bit surprised and kept thinking, ‘How can I be in the XI just because we’re bowling first?’ I thought maybe he made a mistake. Once the playing XI was announced, I realized I was in. That’s why I only started warming up around the 11th or 12th over, knowing I might have to field,” Wadhera added.

Punjab Kings’ Dominant Run-Chase

Wadhera walked in to bat at number four after a strong 84-run partnership between Prabhsimran Singh (69* off 34) and Shreyas Iyer (52* off 30).

The young batter displayed an aggressive approach, hitting three fours and four sixes during his innings. He formed an unbeaten 67-run stand with Iyer, helping PBKS chase down 172 in just 16.2 overs.

Following their emphatic victory, Punjab Kings climbed to second place in the points table with two wins in as many matches. Their next match will be against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 5.

LSG’s Struggle with the Bat

Lucknow Super Giants, after being put to bat first, faced early troubles at 35/3.

However, key contributions from Nicholas Pooran (44 off 30, with five fours and three sixes), Ayush Badoni (41 off 33, with a four and three sixes), and Abdul Samad (27 off 12, with two fours and two sixes) helped them post a respectable total.

PBKS bowlers were effective, with Arshdeep Singh leading the attack, securing figures of 3/43. Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Maxwell, and Yuzvendra Chahal also chipped in with crucial wickets, restricting LSG’s total.

Punjab Kings’ Batting Dominance

Despite losing Priyansh Arya (8) early, PBKS capitalized on powerful knocks from Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer. Wadhera’s late surge further ensured PBKS’ comfortable eight-wicket victory with 22 balls to spare.

Digvesh Rathi’s spell of 2/30 in four overs was the only bright spot for LSG’s bowling attack, but it wasn’t enough to contain PBKS.

Punjab Kings Rise in the Standings

With this win, PBKS now sit in second place on the points table, maintaining an unbeaten streak in the tournament. Meanwhile, LSG have slipped to sixth place, with one win and two losses.