Australia batter Josh Inglis was all smiles when asked about stepping into Shreyas Iyer’s role at number three, following his crucial 73-run performance that led the Punjab Kings to a key victory at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. With this win, Punjab is nearing the top spot, boasting a superior run-rate over RCB, who have a chance to match PBKS on points when they face LSG on Wednesday. Inglis also reflected on his significant 109-run partnership with the young Priyansh Arya, which turned the game against Mumbai Indians in their favor. “The left-right combo helped with the short boundary. We targeted that, played smart cricket, choosing match-ups and balls wisely. It would have been nice if one of us finished the game. I’m happy we secured the win. I’ve faced Santner a lot, we understand each other’s strategies, a cat-and-mouse game with the short boundary. But he’s great. I don’t have to instruct Priyansh much, it’s really nice batting with him. I don’t think Shreyas is too pleased with me taking his spot, but I am. Tonight, I felt I could build an innings after a few shots. I don’t have the power of the other guys, so I have to find gaps,” said Inglis after receiving his PotM honor. Inglis has been shifted around the batting order throughout the season, leading to some inconsistency, but now he seems to have found his place in the top order. Iyer also explained the decision to move him up the order. “Inglis is the only player whose position has been changing frequently. Since he enjoys playing the new ball, I wanted him to face more deliveries. It worked wonders. We know he’s destructive and a big-match player with a great attitude,” Iyer added.