Punjab Kings Captain Shreyas Iyer Looks Ahead to IPL 2025

Shreyas Iyer’s journey over the past year has been full of ups and downs. Dropped from the BCCI central contracts, he responded in the best way possible by leading Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title. He carried that form into domestic cricket and later played a key role in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. Despite his efforts, he felt that his contributions were not fully acknowledged, especially after leading KKR to victory. To add to the surprises, KKR did not retain him, and he found himself in the IPL auction, where Punjab Kings secured him for Rs 26.75 crore. Now, he is set to captain PBKS in IPL 2025.

With a new IPL season ahead, Shreyas has a fresh challenge as Punjab Kings’ captain. His leadership skills will be tested, and he will be looking to guide his team to a strong campaign. After proving himself on different stages, all eyes will be on how he leads PBKS in IPL 2025

Shreyas Iyer on His IPL Journey

Winning an IPL title is no small achievement, but Shreyas believed he did not get the credit he deserved. Speaking to the Times of India, he shared his thoughts on the matter.

“Frustration toh nahi tha because I was playing IPL. The major focus was to win the IPL, and thankfully, I won it. I personally felt I didn’t get the recognition I wanted to after winning the IPL but at the end of the day, as long as you have self-integrity and you keep doing the right things when no one is watching, that is more important and that is what I kept doing,” he said.

Champions Trophy 2025 Performance

Shreyas continued to deliver on the big stage, scoring 243 runs in five innings during the Champions Trophy. His performances were crucial, especially on pitches that were not easy to bat on.

“When I talk about recognition, it’s about getting that respect. It was about the respect for whatever efforts I put on the field. I think sometimes it gets unnoticed but extremely satisfied with the efforts I put in because they weren’t easy wickets to bat on,” he explained.

He also shared his approach to handling pressure in crucial moments.

“It wasn’t easy to take singles, especially when the bowlers were bowling so tight. I just had the belief in myself that once I get two sixes here or there, I can change the momentum towards our side. Luckily, I got them at crucial times,” he added.

Dilip Vengsarkar on Shreyas Iyer’s Impact

Former BCCI chief selector and 1983 World Cup winner Dilip Vengsarkar was happy with Shreyas’ performance but believed he could have done more in the final.

“Iyer did very well but I am not happy the way he got out in the final. He should have continued till the very end and finished the game. But happy to see him realise his potential. KL too played a few important innings at number six but still not convinced Axar Patel batting ahead of him at five. The left-hand right-hand combination could be the only reason,” Vengsarkar said.