That innings is one of the closest to my heart: Nehal Wadhera opens up on his maiden IPL fifty against CSK at Cheepauk

New Delhi, April 11: Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings (PBKS) left-hand batter Nehal Wadhera recalled one of his most cherished knocks, which came against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai during the 2023 edition of the cash-rich league.

Wadhera made his IPL debut during the 2023 season, playing for the Mumbai Indians against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team on April 2. On May 6, the uncapped batter scored his maiden IPL fifty (64 runs off 51 balls) against the Super Kings at Cheepauk.

Speaking on his first IPL fifty, the 24-year-old player, while speaking on JioHotstar, said, "There was a moment that was very special for me. In the past two years, I made my maiden fifty against CSK at Chepauk. At that time, we were in a difficult situation--around 15 for 3--and from there, taking the team to a total of around 160 and scoring 60 off, I think, 50 balls was really important for me. I believe I played a crucial role for the team in that match. Had I gotten out early, I don't think we would've reached that score. The preparations I've done since childhood helped me a lot in handling such pressure situations. That innings is one of the closest to my heart."

Wadhera is currently participating in the IPL 2025, where he is playing for the Punjab-based franchise. The southpaw reflected on the positive impact of leadership and mentorship within the team environment and shared his thoughts on working with captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting and the confidence they bring to the group.

"The way he (Shreyas Iyer) instantly connected with all the players--I really liked it. The confidence he (Shreyas Iyer) carries is remarkable. When a captain shows that kind of belief, it automatically lifts the morale of the team. If you look at their past together--Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting during their time at DC--it was a successful combination. And Ricky Ponting, being the legend he is, brings so much to the table. When I work with him in the nets, everything he says feels so positive. Even the negatives don't register--they don't seem to reach our ears. Being around him feels like a blessing," the batter added.

The PBKS side are currently placed at the fourth spot in the IPL 2025 points table after winning three out of four matches in the ongoing competition with four points against their name. Their next game in the tournament is against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday.

Reader Comments

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Rahul K.

That knock against CSK was pure class! Remember watching it live and being so impressed with how he handled the pressure at Chepauk. Future star in the making 🔥

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Priya M.

Love his humble attitude! Most players would brag about such an innings but he's giving credit to his preparations and team support. That's the kind of player we need in Indian cricket.

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Ankit S.

Respectful criticism - I feel he needs to work on his strike rate though. 64 off 51 is decent but in today's T20 cricket, we need more explosive batting. Hope he improves this season!

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Sanjana P.

The way he talks about Ponting's influence 🥺 So refreshing to see young players valuing mentorship. Cricket is as much about skills as it is about learning from legends!

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Vikram J.

That 15/3 situation was scary! His innings totally changed the momentum. PBKS made a smart move picking him up. Excited to see what he does against SRH tomorrow!

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Neha R.

His emotional connect with that innings is so relatable! We all have that one special moment we cherish forever in our careers. Wishing him many more such memories 💙

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