Shreyas Iyer to lead Punjab Kings in IPL 2025

by Tejas Rathi
Shreyas Iyer

Indian batter Shreyas Iyer has been announced as the leader of Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The development was confirmed on the reality TV show Big Boss, where Iyer served as the guest alongside PBKS team-mates Yuzvendra Chahal and Shashank Singh.

In his official statement, Iyer expressed his gratitude for the team management showing faith in his leadership. He also remains confident of the team’s balance, which could pave the way for the team’s maiden IPL title.

“I am honoured that the team has reposed its faith in me. I am looking forward to working again with coach [Ricky] Ponting,” Iyer was quoted as saying in a release. “The team looks strong, with a great mix of potential and proven performers. I hope to repay the faith shown by the management to deliver our maiden title.”

The 30-year-old Iyer was the most experienced captain in the last IPL season, where he led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third title. After topping the points table in the group stage, KKR beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 and Final to win the tournament.

However, Shreyas Iyer was not retained by the Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. As a result, PBKS splurged INR 26.75 crore to secure the services of the right-hander, who holds a captaincy record of 40 wins in 70 games.

It will be interesting to see if Iyer can help the Punjab-based franchise qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2014. They emerged as the runner-up in that season under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer.

PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting has found success with Shreyas Iyer in IPL

Shreyas Iyer

Newly-appointed Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting has achieved success with Shreyas Iyer in the IPL during their stint with Delhi Capitals. Iyer made his IPL debut in 2015 and played for the Capitals until 2021, while Ponting served as the head coach of the franchise from 2018 to 2024.

Iyer took over as the franchise’s captain mid-way in the 2018 season, replacing Gautam Gambhir. Under his captaincy, the Capitals secured 21 wins in 36 games and qualified for the playoffs in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Due to a great camaraderie between the two, Ponting and the franchise kept their interest maintained in the auction to eventually induct Shreyas Iyer into the Punjab Kings squad for IPL 2025.

“I wanted to work with Shreyas,” Ponting told Star Sports after the auction. “I’ve worked with him before and he is a great guy and a great player. He’ll be a great leader for our team if we decide to go that way, which I’m pretty sure we probably will. And obviously, he was the championship-winning captain last year. So there are lots of great things about bringing him to Punjab.”

FAQs

How did Shreyas Iyer perform in IPL 2024?

351 runs in 15 innings at an average of 39 & a strike rate of 146.86

Has Shreyas Iyer scored a century in IPL?

No

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