Quiet brilliance: Shreyas Iyer leads by example, not by hype | Cricket News
Ahmedabad: As Shashank Singh walked off the field following his 61*(30) in the IPL 2025 final, Shreyas Iyer was among the first to offer solace. Punjab Kings (PBKS) fell short by just six runs, which would have definitely hurt Shreyas, who had earlier shared that winning means everything to him. A win on Tuesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium would’ve made him the first captain to win two consecutive IPL titles with two different teams.This season, Shreyas had showcased selflessness of the highest order with the way he spearheaded an inexperienced PBKS squad to the final. The Mohali-based franchise had finished ninth in the previous edition and had not qualified for the playoffs in 11 years.While Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis were featuring in the IPL for the first time, the likes of Nehal Wadhera and Azmatullah Omarzai also had limited experience. Shreyas had to further deal with the exits of Glenn Maxwell and Lockie Ferguson due to injuries. The PBKS setup suffered a major setback in the playoffs following the unavailability of South African all-rounder Marco Jansen, who left the squad due to the World Test Championship (WTC) final.Shreyas navigated all the challenges with his ice-cold calmness, maintaining confidence through thick and thin. There was constant emphasis on making the players feel secure by backing them despite failures.
Priyansh enjoyed quality backing despite periods of inconsistency. The show of confidence powered the 24-year-old to score 475 runs at a strike rate of 179.24 in his maiden IPL season. Shreyas further empowered opener Prabhsimran Singh to realise his true potential following a topsy-turvy run in the past. Prabhsimran emerged as the highest-scoring uncapped player in IPL 2025, smashing 549 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 160.52.m “Shreyas talks to me like a friend. He says, ‘Just play in the manner which suits you’,” said Arya.Even Wadhera and Shashank made their presence felt, bringing solidity to the middle and lower order. One of Wadhera’s most prominent performances came in ‘Qualifier 2’, where he smashed 48 off 29 balls, enabling PBKS to chase down 204 against MI. Shashank brought explosiveness and experience down the order, stepping up whenever promoted as well.However, the most impressive aspect of Shreyas’ captaincy was the way he batted. The PBKS captain amassed 604 runs at an average of 50.33.
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Shreyas’ tally of 39 sixes in IPL 2025 is the second-highest number of sixes registered by an Indian batter in an IPL season. The PBKS captain showcased a batting masterclass in the second qualifier, delivering a beautiful amalgamation of aggression and composure during his unbeaten 87 off 41 balls. The Punjab-based franchise has been quite entertaining under Shreyas, notably smashing more than 200 runs in seven IPL 2025 matches. PBKS hit 173 sixes during the season—an impressive tally compared to second-placed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who accumulated 152 sixes.“Shreyas has real hunger in his eyes to do well. He wants to evolve and develop into the best leader and captain that he can be,” said PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting.Who’s that IPL player?Shreyas is known for his ability to perform magic tricks, which certainly reflected in the transformation of the bowling department. The same team which once struggled to defend large totals showcased immense composure to pull off wins comprehensively.While Arshdeep Singh (21 wickets) and Jansen (16 wickets) made their presence felt, Shreyas backed Chahal (16 wickets) despite expensive spells. The spinner repaid the faith, especially in a league match against KKR, picking four wickets as PBKS defended 112.Shreyas’ tactical acumen further stood out in his crafty utilisation of Vyshak Vijaykumar, with the pacer’s variations frustrating batters. Vyshak bowled wide yorkers in the Eliminator against GT, delivering knuckle-balls craftily in the second qualifier, which made a big difference.While Shreyas is certainly a great teammate, he is also stern about maintaining top-notch standards. The PBKS captain lashed out at Shashank following his clumsy run-out in the second qualifier, showcasing the emphasis on being competitive.
