Punjab Kings’ decision to spend $3.17 million on Shreyas Iyer is proving to be worth every penny. The 30-year-old displayed exceptional leadership in their impressive win over Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday.
Punjab, who have only reached the IPL final once in 2014 and finished ninth last season, took a bold step by making Iyer their captain. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title last year but was surprisingly released, giving Punjab the perfect opportunity to sign him.
Iyer’s Stunning 97 Sets the Tone
Iyer played a captain’s knock in Ahmedabad, smashing an unbeaten 97 off just 42 balls. His innings included nine sixes and five fours, setting up Punjab’s massive total of 243-5.
Despite being close to his maiden IPL century, Iyer showed true team spirit by encouraging his batting partner, Shashank Singh, to go for big shots instead of focusing on bringing him back on strike.
“I was going to ask if I should take a single, but he told me not to worry about his hundred,” Shashank revealed. The decision paid off, as Shashank hammered five fours in the final over, finishing with a quickfire 44* off 16 balls.
Gujarat Falls Short in High-Scoring Chase
Gujarat Titans put up a strong fight, with fifties from Sai Sudharshan and Jos Buttler keeping them in the game. Sherfane Rutherford also played a fiery knock of 46 at number four, but Gujarat could only manage 232-5 in their chase.
The turning point was Punjab’s explosive finish with the bat, which helped them post a daunting target. Seamer Arshdeep Singh comfortably defended 27 runs in the final over to seal the win.
Iyer Praises Team’s Performance
Reflecting on the match, Iyer credited the team’s powerful finish for securing the victory. “Getting those extra 40 runs beyond 200 was crucial. With the dew coming in, we knew the conditions would change, but we executed our plans well,” he said. “Shashank’s performance was simply brilliant.”
With this win, Punjab Kings have sent a strong message in IPL 2025, proving they are ready to challenge the best.
