'Jeette the nahi, khelte achha the nahi' - Virender Sehwag holds Punjab's team environment accountable for dip in his IPL form

Sehwag PBKS. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Renowned former Indian batter, Virender Sehwag, delivered a scathing remark aimed at the Punjab Kings while commentating during Match 6 of IPL 2024, being played between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Punjab Kings. After spending six seasons at the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) from 2008 to 2013, Sehwag moved to the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and played for them in 2014 and 2015.

During his time with the Delhi-based franchise, Sehwag amassed 2174 runs in 79 matches at a strike-rate of 159.35, notching up 15 fifties and a solitary century to his name. After moving to the Punjab-based franchise, he scored 455 runs for them in IPL 2014, before suffering a massive decline in form which saw him score just 99 in the season after, post which he retired as a player and re-joined the franchise, this time as a mentor, which lasted three seasons from IPL 2016 to IPL 2018.

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While doing Hindi commentary during IPL 2024, Sehwag mocked PBKS for their lack of victories, highlighting their trophyless history in the league. He humorously attributed a drop in his own strike-rate during his time with the franchise to the team atmosphere. 

"Jab mai Punjab mein gaya, tab mera strike-rate kam hogaya. Voh kehte hai na, ki jaisi sangati, waisa behave karte ho. Toh waha ki sangati waisi hi thi. Jeette the nahi, khelte achha the nahi, toh mera game aur thoda kharaab hogaya

 (When I was in Punjab, my strike-rate had dropped. It was due to bad team influence. They don't win matches, they don't play well, and hence by game deteriorated)," Sehwag said on Star Sports.

PBKS start IPL 2024 with a mixed bag of results so far

Having defeated DC by four wickets with the same number of deliveries to spare in their debut match at their new home at the Mullanpur Cricket Stadium in Mohali in Match 2 in a match which went down to the last over, PBKS lost a final-over thriller at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 25, 2024, against RCB by the same margin as their first match. 

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