Mumbai: Speaking exclusively on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Robin Uthappa shared his views on Punjab Kings’ dominant win and their campaign trajectory: “You want momentum at the right point in the tournament and the right kind of impetus going into the play-offs. Punjab started the tournament exceptionally well, lost a bit of steam towards the back end of the league stage, but regained momentum just before the play-offs. Granted, they’re losing a player or two to national duty, but even within the squad, the batting line-up looks really solid. For me, Arshdeep Singh hasn’t quite fired yet, and that actually augurs well for Punjab. It means he’s due for a big performance and will be raring to go in crucial games. I have a strong feeling the final is going to be between RCB and Punjab.”
Reflecting on Mumbai Indians’ performance, JioStar expert Robin Uthappa said: “If we look at MI’s batting intent, they could have definitely gone harder. They had 46% dot balls — usually, coaches want that number between 30–35% when setting a target. That’s the difference — those extra dot balls could’ve been converted into a few boundaries, a couple of sixes, or even just singles. If they’d reached 205–210, it could’ve been a very different game. The bowlers would’ve had more to work with. Instead, they looked desperate for wickets, which led to poor execution. It’s understandable — when there’s an opportunity to jump from fourth to first, players tend to push harder. Unfortunately, they now finish fourth.”
Commenting on Josh Inglis’ match-winning knock, JioStar expert Robin Uthappa said: “That’s exactly what championship-winning teams do. The Indian players shoulder the heavy workload, and the overseas players deliver when it matters most. You can see the momentum within the team — the unity, the energy, and the sheer joy with which they’re playing. Josh Inglis gave the bowlers a proper masterclass out there.”
On Shreyas Iyer’s leadership this season, JioStar expert Robin Uthappa stated: “ Shreyas has always been an exceptional captain. You always sensed that he felt underappreciated at KKR despite adding value there. He moved to a franchise where not much had been achieved historically — and then went on to win it for them. That says a lot about his leadership and belief.”
On Priyansh Arya’s performance under pressure, JioStar expert Robin Uthappa remarked: “He’s been scintillating this season — a real revelation alongside several other young talents. But when you talk about standout youngsters, his name comes up right away. To deliver such a performance in a high-stakes match — one that determined qualifier positioning — shows he has the temperament for big games. He communicated well with Josh Inglis, rotated the strike efficiently, ran hard between the wickets, and played to his strengths.”
Looking ahead to the RCB vs LSG clash and RCB’s chances for making it to the top two on the points table, JioStar expert Robin Uthappa commented: “I’ve said it from the beginning, I believe it’s going to be Punjab and RCB. They’ve got momentum on their side and have started bowling well. They need to close out games effectively, and Virat Kohli has to be the chase master we know he is — batting through the 20 overs. When he does that, it builds pressure on the opposition, especially in the death overs. The bowlers also need to step up. I’m glad Josh Hazlewood is back, which will help Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) too. Yash Dayal has been decent at the death overs. Suyash faltered in the last game, but if he returns to being disciplined, like he was at the start of the IPL, he’ll be effective again. And Krunal Pandya has also been bowling well.”
