"I totally blame myself" - PBKS youngster makes big admission about his performance in IPL 2025 final against RCB

Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Nehal Wadhera has said that had he produced a better performance in the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the result could have been different. The 24-year-old made 15 off 18 balls before falling to Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the summit clash at Ahmedabad.

The southpaw revealed that he intended to take the game deep on the day of the final, but the strategy did not work for him and his side on that day.

"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 think I was just taking the game deep, and I believe in finishing games by taking it deep. I think this was one of those days when I couldn't finish the game. When I had to accelerate in all the tournaments, whenever I accelerated, I think it paid off except for the last game," Wadhera told Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview.

"Some days, it doesn't click, and I think it was the same day when it didn't happen. But I don't have any regrets that I was taking the game deep, and that situation was fine because the wickets were falling, but I think I could have accelerated a little more, which I have learnt and analysed," he added.

Chasing 191 runs for victory, PBKS fell short by six runs to finish runners-up in IPL 2025. This was their first IPL final since 2014, where they had lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.

Nehal Wadhera heaps praise on Shreyas Iyer's leadership qualities

Nehal Wadhera's captain at Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer, led the side to the final with an unbeaten innings of 87 runs in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians. The left-handed batter dwelled on Iyer's off-field personality, referring to the way he handled his teammates away from the field.

"The way he behaves off the field, his attitude is reflected in the game and I think a good captain, his attitude, the way he speaks, the way he handles people, if he is good, he is automatically a good leader and I think he is a perfect example for that," Wadhera said.

Wadhera made 369 runs in 16 matches in IPL 2025, at a strike rate of 142.94 and a highest score of 70.