Mumbai (Maharashtra), India—On the eve of the IPL season kickoff featuring RCB against KKR, experienced spinner Piyush Chawla commented that even with Virat Kohli’s recent exit from international Twenty20 cricket, he remains under significant pressure due to his stature. Praising the 36-year-old icon for maintaining high levels of vigor and skill, Chawla described him as an energizer on the field.
The much-anticipated 'Original Derby,' which launched the Indian Premier League during its debut season in 2008, will once more open the 18th edition when it takes place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata this Saturday. Attention will center on each team’s spinning bowlers. On one hand, KKR boasts their consistent pair of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, supported by seasoned player Moeen Ali and promising youngster Anukul Roy. In contrast, RCB leans on veteran Krunal, known for strong showings in local matches, bolstered by versatile players Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, along with a youthful spinner named Suyash, who previously got his initial taste of the IPL playing for KKR in 2023.
Piyush, an IPL 2025 specialist at JioStar, mentioned that even though Virat retired from international Twenty20 cricket last year and is not part of the national team anymore, he will likely still experience butterflies in his stomach.
"He is an individual who consistently performs well for his team. The statistics back this up; they speak volumes. Much discussion revolves around the strike rate, which usually remains impressively high—above 130, sometimes even reaching 140. As part of the team’s strategy, it's crucial to have someone reliable who can anchor one end effectively. When players such as Virat step up and perform under these conditions with a strike rate between 130 and 140, their contribution becomes invaluable," explained Piyush to ANI.
However, for someone like Virat Kohli, whenever he steps onto the field, he consistently gives over 100 percent—and perhaps even more. He leaves nothing behind and risks everything. This embodies the spirit of Virat Kohli; he’s perpetually energetic and constantly prepared to perform exceptional feats for his team. In regard to pressure, stepping into the game brings certain expectations—whether actively participating or having retired from T20 cricket—you strive to prove yourself based on your reputation and legacy. Thus, Virat wouldn’t claim there’s no pressure at all. Instead, there’s an inherent nervousness—a fluttering sensation in one's gut—that accompanies such moments.
When discussing his top four teams of the season, Piyush mentioned that although he requires additional time to consider the fourth team, he identified Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK)—both quintuple champions—and Punjab Kings (PBKS) as likely competitors for securing three out of the playoff berths.
Piyush highlighted that Mumbai's well-rounded team, CSK’s ability to secure playoff spots despite their strategies, along with their elite spin bowlers, and PBKS appearing formidable on paper all contribute to making these squads robust contenders.
Piyush believes that on paper, the Mumbai Indians appear well-balanced. The team members are also performing well lately. When discussing Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, he highlighted Tilak Verma’s impressive contributions as well. Additionally, their bowling unit seems quite strong. Hence, according to him, the Mumbai Indians stand out as one of the top contenders,
In Chennai, they always seem to find a way to secure a spot in the top four. Given their squad, particularly their strong trio of high-caliber spin bowlers who leverage their home-field edge, coupled with solid batting options ready to perform—this lineup appears formidable. Meanwhile, Punjab also stands out as a promising team on paper this season. The question remains about how they will adapt and utilize their combination of players effectively.
Therefore, Punjab seems like an excellent choice. Up until this point, we've covered three options. For the fourth option, I'll need some time to ponder over it," said Piyush.
Piyush, who has taken 192 wickets in 192 matches and is currently commentating this season, expressed his enthusiasm about participating in the event from a fresh perspective. He also mentioned that the competition will pose challenges equally for batsmen and bowlers.
When discussing whether teams might reach the 300-run milestone for the first time this year—following last season’s record with eight scores over 250 runs and the highest ever IPL total of 287 set by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)—Piyush suggested that achieving such a feat hinges on “a single powerful innings” from one player.
"Bowlers will have various approaches and tactics as well; I believe achieving 300 won’t be simple. However, perhaps among numerous matches, we might see this happen once, though even that seems doubtful," he further stated.
Regarding Shreyas Iyer, who is now leading Punjab Kings (PBKS) following his victory with KKR last year and has performed exceptionally well both domestically and internationally in 2024 and 2025 as a batsman and captain, Piyush mentioned that maintaining their current form will be crucial for Punjab. They will require an excellent beginning to achieve success.
"Over the past year, Shreyas has consistently delivered impressive performances wherever he has played, boasting remarkable statistics. This streak should significantly bolster both his self-assurance as a player and his leadership as a captain. Additionally, he has assembled a solid squad, with the management providing him support to helm a capable team. Therefore, I believe they stand a formidable chance of securing a spot in the top four," he concluded. (ANI)
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