Nehal Wadhera stepped up to bat at No. 4 for the Punjab Kings during their IPL 2025 match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1. Playing at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, he made quite an impact with a fantastic performance, scoring 43 runs off just 25 balls. Nehal’s innings played a huge part in the team’s success, as he formed a solid partnership for the third wicket, adding 67 runs with captain Shreyas Iyer, who also had a strong showing with 52 runs off 30 balls. Thanks to their efforts, Punjab Kings managed to chase down a target of 172 runs in just 16.2 overs, securing an impressive victory by 8 wickets.
During his time at the crease, Nehal, who hails from Ludhiana, showcased his talent by hitting three fours and four sixes, keeping the crowd entertained. After the game, Nehal was quick to share some heartfelt compliments about the head coach of Punjab Kings, Ricky Ponting. He expressed how much he appreciated working under Ponting, stating, He is one of the best coaches I have ever worked under. I’ve never heard him say anything negative—that’s the best part. He always keeps it positive, and when a coach gives you good feedback, it really helps to boost your confidence.
At just 24 years old, Nehal has already made a name for himself, having previously played for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He didn’t stop at praising his coach; he also spoke highly of his captain, Shreyas Iyer, and noted how well Iyer is leading the team. Shreyas bhai and everyone played really well; our bowlers did a fantastic job, and Prabhsimran’s batting was impressive too. Shreyas’s performance was nothing short of remarkable. He has such a great way of captaincy, uplifting our spirits. He always encourages me to play my natural game and just go with the flow, and that really helps.”
Interestingly, it was the second match in a row that Iyer was the top scorer for the Punjab Kings. He came in to bat at No. 3 and, with some aggressive strokes including three fours and four sixes, scored 52 runs off just 30 balls. He sealed the victory in style, launching a big six off Abdul Samad’s second ball in the 17th over—an exciting finish to a great team performance!
