Mumbai: Speaking exclusively on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Navjot Singh Sidhu was full of praise for the young Priyansh Arya’s innings for Punjab Kings: “Nobody would have expected this type of innings. This is incredible. I’ve never seen anyone at this age dominate bowling like Priyansh does, except for maybe Sachin Tendulkar. He has magical wrists. When he goes on the back foot and hits a six—see, stepping out and hitting is easier, but standing in position and hitting a six off the back foot is special. Whether it’s a yorker or a short ball, he’s hitting them for sixes. That’s amazing. His range and all-round ability come from those wrists. If he stays injury-free, this boy will play for India very soon and for a long time.”
JioStar expert Saba Karim also reflected on the opening partnership between Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh: “Priyansh is always fluid, but he was particularly lucid in this match. His ability to pick length and play all around the ground, whether against pace or spin was a remarkable display of high-quality batsmanship. His intent to score quickly was clear, and the way he translated his talent at this level into something so impactful was breathtaking. Both batters were impressive. It was a study in contrast: Prabhsimran relies on power—with control—while Priyansh brings strong wrist work, excellent footwork, and intelligent use of the crease. Together, they forged a very robust opening partnership.”
JioStar expert Saba Karim further analysed Prabhsimran Singh’s performance and his evolution as a batter:“If you look at the kind of shots he’s added to his game—like the reverse sweep, which has been very effective against spin—it shows his growth. He’s addressed the issues that plagued him over the past two to three seasons. The Punjab Kings’ decision to retain him reflected their faith in his potential, and he’s clearly worked hard to repay that trust. It’s great to see him come back and perform like this for Punjab.”
On the upcoming fixture between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), JioStar expert Saba Karim commented on RCB’s chances of qualifying for the play-offs:“RCB are in a strong position to win this encounter. LSG, at this stage, seem down and out—their batters haven’t clicked, and the bowling unit hasn’t fired either. Even their captain, Rishabh Pant, has struggled. RCB can aim for a top-two finish. Virat Kohli is in prime form, Rajat Patidar is a promising leader, and Jitesh Sharma, Tim David—all are contributing well. Their bowling attack looks strong with Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the spin of Krunal Pandya, and the right-arm leg-spinner Suyash Sharma—all in good form. When you’re looking to seal a play-off berth and a top-two spot, facing a struggling side like LSG gives you the chance to dominate. RCB should impose themselves, just like Punjab did against Delhi.”
JioStar expert Navjot Singh Sidhu offered a candid assessment of Rishabh Pant’s struggles and LSG’s chances of play-offs: “The problem with Rishabh Pant is his shot selection. You can’t hit your way out of trouble every time. Maybe it’s the pressure of his own reputation that’s weighing him down and not allowing him to relax. It shows—his frustration is visible. As captain, he often loses his cool, that gives the opposition an edge. Look at Dhoni—calm, composed, giving nothing away. Pant needs to tune his mindset, especially around shot selection. He needs to go back to the basics. Even if LSG win all their remaining matches, their poor net run rate, currently the lowest on the table will hurt their chances of play-offs.”
