IPL 2021: Punjab opened their fist and let the match slip away – Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra has highlighted that the Punjab Kings (PBKS) have almost made it a habit of letting the easy win situations slip out of their hands.

The Punjab Kings required just four runs off the final over in their IPL 2021 clash against the Rajasthan Royals (RR), with eight wickets in hand and two well-set batsmen at the crease. However, they managed just one run to lose the match by two runs.

While commenting on the Punjab Kings’ defeat in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra pointed out that the KL Rahul-led side are just repeating the same mistake over and over again. He observed:

“The expectation was that they will come back re-energized and rejuvenated but nothing like that happened. But then, it has become a habit of sorts. Haari baazi ko jo jeetne wale ko baazigar kahte hain, jeete match ko jo haarta hai, usko aaj kal Punjab Kings kahte hain.”

The former cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Punjab Kings lost from an invincible position. Chopra elaborated:

“Does it ever happen that you have an opening partnership of 120 runs, the opposing team drops four catches, you need just four runs in the last over with two set overseas batsmen at the crease, and despite that you lose the match by two runs.”

KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal were involved in a 120-run opening wicket partnership in less than twelve overs. The equation came down to eight runs required from the last two overs, with Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram batting fluently, but they failed to cross the line.

Aakash Chopra pointed out that the Punjab Kings are known to make easy match-winning situations difficult for themselves. They lost a match that was already in their grasp this time around. He explained,” If your name is Punjab, if something can be done the difficult way, you don’t want to do it easily. In fact, this was the match where you opened your fist and let the match go. How did you do that? They would be asking themselves as well that when the match was in their grip, how did they lose it?”

The 44-year-old concluded by expressing disappointment at the Punjab Kings’ stunning defeat. They are beginning to earn the “chokers” nickname. Chopra said: “I am really sorry, I love you guys, honestly I do but I do feel very disappointed because there is expectation from you to win, but you are not able to win a match that you should have won. This is incredible.”

The Punjab Kings were stunned by the Rajasthan Royals in a similar fashion in IPL 2020 as well. Rahul Tewatia launched a brutal attack on Sheldon Cottrell when the match already seemed to be in the Anil Kumble-coached side’s pocket.