Punjab Kings batter Nehal Wadhera, who scored 15 (18) in the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, took full responsibility for his team's narrow loss on the big night.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted a 191-run target for the Punjab Kings. Despite a hard-fought battle, Punjab fell short by just 6 runs, as RCB finally clinched their maiden IPL title after 17 long years.
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Pressure Mounts, Wadhera Falls Short in Final
The 24-year old, who played in the middle order for Punjab Kings throughout the season, walked in at a crucial moment when his team needed acceleration alongside Jos Inglis.
The left-hander, who had delivered a crucial knock against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, couldn’t replicate his performance on the biggest stage. His innings included just one six and was bogged down by too many dot balls. The 24-year-old was eventually dismissed for 15 (18), unable to make an impact under pressure.
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“Could’ve Accelerated Earlier”: Wadhera on Missed Opportunity
Reflecting on his performance, Wadhera told Hindustan Times that he takes full blame for the loss and acknowledged that he failed to accelerate at the right moment.
“I totally blame myself. If I had played better at that time, we could have definitely won. I won't blame the pitch because RCB scored 190 runs. I was trying to take the game deep—I believe in finishing games that way. But this was one of those days where it didn’t work out. In all the other games, whenever I accelerated, it paid off—except for this one.”
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Wadhera called it a learning experience and accepted that he should have adapted better given the situation, especially with wickets falling around him.
“Some days, it doesn't click, and I think this was one of those days. But I have no regrets about trying to take the game deep—it made sense with wickets falling. Still, I think I could have accelerated a little earlier. That’s something I’ve analysed, and I’ll definitely work on that in the future.”
“A Perfect Leader”: Wadhera on Captain Shreyas
He also had words of praise for his captain, Shreyas Iyer, calling him an ideal leader and a major influence both on and off the field.
“I think the statements he makes and applies off the field really boost his confidence. His off-field behavior reflects in the way he plays. A good captain leads by attitude—the way he speaks, the way he handles people. If those qualities are in place, he’s automatically a good leader. I think Shreyas is a perfect example of that.”
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Despite the heartbreak in the final, Nehal Wadhera had a breakout season with the bat. The young left-hander played 16 matches and scored 369 runs at a strike rate of 145.84, including two fifties in IPL 2025.
