‘Arguably no.1 against spin’: Karim hails Iyer after match-winning knock vs CSK

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Saba Karim heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer following his impressive half-century for Punjab Kings (PBKS) against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 7 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday.

Iyer played a key knock of 50 off 29 balls, showcasing his ability to control the innings and accelerate when needed. His performance played an important role in Punjab Kings chasing a target of 210 runs in 18.4 overs, breaching Chennai’s stronghold for the second consecutive time.

Karim feels that Iyer continues to be underrated despite his consistent performances.

"Today was one such example where he showed why he's so different from the other batters we've seen so far. Even in the T20 format, he looks so flawless; he has so much time. I think he's arguably the No. 1 batter against spin bowling, talking about white-ball cricket, including one-day and T20," Karim told ESPNCricinfo.