Punjab Kings’ Nehal Wadhera says team is upbeat after CSK win but will approach struggling Sunrisers Hyderabad with full seriousness; praises Priyansh Arya’s century and Glenn Maxwell’s potential comeback
Hyderabad, April 12: Punjab Kings (PBKS) may be flying high after an emphatic win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), but young batter Nehal Wadhera isn’t letting confidence turn into complacency. Speaking ahead of PBKS’ next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday, Wadhera made it clear that his side is treating the encounter with utmost seriousness.
Despite SRH losing four consecutive matches, Wadhera warned against underestimating them.
“SRH is a very dangerous side. Just because they’ve lost a few games doesn’t mean they’re less of a threat. On paper, they’re still a strong team, and we’re preparing just as hard as we did for previous matches,” he said in a statement released by the franchise.
PBKS, led by Shreyas Iyer, currently boast three wins from four matches and come into the Hyderabad clash on the back of a stellar century from Priyansh Arya against CSK. Wadhera credited Arya and fellow batter Shashank Singh for anchoring a memorable win.
“Priyansh’s knock was one of the finest I’ve seen, especially given it’s just his fourth IPL game. The partnership with Shashank and Marco Jansen was a game-changer,” he said.
Speaking about his own experience with the franchise, Wadhera emphasized the positive dressing room environment under coach Ricky Ponting.
“This is my first season with Punjab, and the bonding within the team is fantastic. Everyone supports one another, especially on off days. That unity is what helps teams thrive in a tournament as intense as the IPL.”
Wadhera also backed Glenn Maxwell, who has struggled so far with just 31 runs in four matches, to bounce back soon.
“There’s no concern about Maxwell. We all know what he’s capable of. He’s been hitting well in the nets and is just one knock away from turning things around.”
PBKS will face SRH at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 PM IST.