Things got worse for PBKS in the next over. Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar outsmarted Prabhsimran Singh, who attempted an aggressive charge down the track. The experienced bowler shortened the length just in time, forcing an edge that wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma safely pouched. With both openers back in the pavilion, Preity Zinta’s concerned expressions were soon caught on camera.The pressure only mounted when captain Shreyas Iyer fell cheaply to Josh Hazlewood. Attempting a wild slog across the line, Iyer edged the ball to Jitesh Sharma, giving RCB their third wicket inside the first five overs. Hazlewood wasn’t done yet — he returned to dismiss Josh Inglis with a short ball that reared up awkwardly. Inglis’s mistimed pull landed straight in the hands of Bhuvneshwar Kumar at long leg.

As the wickets kept tumbling in Mullanpur, Preity Zinta’s stress was palpable. From hopeful excitement to deep anxiety, her changing expressions mirrored the fortunes of her team on the field. PBKS, who had entered the match as table-toppers, found themselves reeling under pressure, and Zinta’s body language summed up the early drama of this high-stakes encounter.