Vyshak turns the game around as Siraj falters with key decisions

Vyshak Makes the Difference as Siraj Struggles with Execution

The IPL 2025 clash between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday night featured a mix of high-profile and lesser-known fast bowlers. Mohammed Siraj, a seasoned international, found himself upstaged by Vijaykumar Vyshak, a relative underdog playing just his 12th IPL game. In a match shaped by smart planning and execution, Vyshak turned the tide in Punjab's favour, while Siraj endured a forgettable outing, finishing with figures of 0 for 54 from four overs.

Siraj, who was making his first appearance this season, struggled particularly in the final over of the PBKS innings. Tasked with defending against a rampaging Shashank Singh, Siraj failed to execute a clear plan—bowling a mix of short, wide, and full deliveries, with little consistency. Three short-and-wide deliveries disappeared for boundaries, while two others also went for fours. Shashank hammered 23 runs off the over, a decisive blow as PBKS ultimately won by 11 runs.

Speaking on T20 TimeOut, former India pacer Varun Aaron said, “It’s his first game this IPL—you have to give him four to five games before judging. But yes, his decision-making at the death was poor.” Aaron added that being under Ashish Nehra’s guidance at GT might help Siraj improve over the course of the season.

Ambati Rayudu echoed that sentiment, suggesting Siraj had drifted away from his strengths. “He’s primarily an inswing bowler, but he tried to bowl outswingers today,” Rayudu observed. “He needs to go back to what comes naturally—use his inswing as his main weapon and occasionally surprise with the outswing.”

Aaron added that an analysis from the previous season showed Siraj bowled 20% more outswingers in 2024 compared to 2023—and his performance suffered. “His outswing isn’t like [Mohammed] Shami’s, which moves late. Siraj’s swings early and lacks the same threat.”

Despite a strong IPL 2023 (19 wickets, economy of 7.52), Siraj’s 2024 season was underwhelming (15 wickets at 9.19 economy), and this season hasn’t started well either.

Meanwhile, Vyshak’s impact for PBKS was subtle but strategic. Punjab delayed subbing him in as their Impact Player until after GT had brought in Sherfane Rutherford, a left-handed power hitter. Moments after Arshdeep Singh dismissed B Sai Sudharsan, GT replaced Prasidh Krishna with Rutherford. PBKS responded by bringing in Vyshak for Priyansh Arya at the end of the 13th over—timing that proved crucial.

Rayudu called Vyshak’s entry the turning point of the game. “He changed the game,” he said.

Vyshak bowled three overs—15th, 17th, and 19th. While the final over was expensive (18 runs), his first two were tight and well-executed, conceding just 10 runs and putting pressure on Rutherford and Jos Buttler. Punjab’s tactics limited GT’s momentum during the key phase of their chase.

Aaron praised PBKS for their composure and tactical planning. “They waited to see GT’s Impact Player move. Had GT sent in Glenn Phillips instead, PBKS could have brought in Harpreet Brar to bowl. The moment they saw Rutherford, they went with Vyshak, a better option in that scenario.”

He added, “Vyshak’s a death-overs specialist. His knuckleballs and wide yorkers are quite effective. Credit to Punjab—they held their nerve. That’s what happens when you have an IPL-winning captain in Shreyas Iyer and a coach like Ricky Ponting. There’s calm under pressure.”

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