IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer As Punjab Kings Captain Has Been Defining

IPL 2025: To say that Punjab Kings are in the pink of health and form would be stating the obvious. At a neutral zone which the Sawai Man Singh Stadium was in Pink City, Shreyas Iyer's boys stepped on the gas to pull off a facile seven-wicket win against potent Mumbai Indians to enter Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2025.

One has to rave about captain Shreyas, who has led from the front. Last year, as skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders, the side from Eastern India had blown away Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final at the Chepauk in Chennai.

Much bad blood existed between Shreyas and the KKR management. The cricketer not wanted by the Indian establishment had no qualms about leaving KKR and seeking greener pastures. It was a decision loaded with risks at the IPL auction last year in Saudi Arabia. Shreyas believed in himself and still believes in himself. And the results are there for all to see.

A Mumbaikar who plays for a crowded city in first class cricket and still does not have a Godfather to push his case when it comes to selection in the Indian international team, Shreyas has accepted it.

There are two ways of dealing with bias - moan and mourn, or just move on. Shreyas has chosen the righteous path of being a fighter to the core. Whatever be the team, Mumbai's domestic team, the ODI team, where he was second choice and got to play for India in the Champions Trophy, Shreyas did not flinch. He stood up and performed.

For those who have watched Shreyas in IPL 2025, there were scary moments for the team when their match had to be abandoned in Dharmasala when Operation Sindoor took place. The team had to be rescued, literally, and shepherded out of the venue. But then playing in a neutral zone and to trip Mumbai Indians' bull run has been defining.

If one evaluates Shreyas Iyer purely on skills as a batter, that would be wrong. He has not batted just for himself, but stepped up whenever needed. What the skipper with great match sense has done is to allow players to blossom, be it a Priyansh Arya or Prabhsimran Singh.

On Monday night, Priyansh was in red hot form as he collared the Mumbai attack for 62 runs off 35 balls. More important, Josh Inglis was the explosive batter at No.3 who showed how he can make a difference in a right-left combo where he took on pace and spin with aplomb.

The 30-year-old from Yorkshire hammered 72 runs off 42 balls. It was a knock well- timed and explosive as well. This is the way captain Shreyas has allowed his batters to explode.

The batting unit of Punjab Kings has worked in symphony. If you look at how they have mastered the rival bowling attacks, there has been a template where at least two or three batters have come good. Shreyas, himself, has scored when needed but when it comes to leadership in a big match, he has risen.

Many mocked Punjab Kings before the start of the season. Shreyas has been with big teams. Yet to shape the destiny of the Northern side with cunning Rocky Ponting as coach has also been a defining partnership. Be it in picking the right 11 for a match or firing up the boys, Ponting and Shreyas have worked in tandem. The same Ponting, who has been with Mumbai and Delhi Capitals before in the IPL

In terms of a match-up, MI have relied heavily on Suryakumar Yadav this season. He did score 57 runs, but the way Arshdeep Singh, the wily left arm swing bowler has shaped up for Punjab Kings has been defining. Now celebrating his inclusion in the Test squad which will tour England, Arshdeep Singh did well to claim two for 28 in two overs.

Talking about leading a new side, Shreyas has opened up well. When he was bought at the auction for a massive sum of Rs 26.75 crores, some said it was just too much. However, the lady who is a lucky charm for Punjab Kings, Preity Zinta, has imposed great faith in Shreyas and the team.

Shreyas said he his side is performing as each player has been able to step up. The freedom to make decisions on the field has been an important factor for Shreyas. He did speak about all this, last night.

For a man who has been wronged by the Indian cricket establishment, where coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of the BCCI selection committee Ajit Agarkar have also treated Shreyas like dirt, the Punjab Kings captain has not minded it. There is that fighter instinct in him, to punch hard. To beat Mumbai Indians, who were on a high, it was defining.