'If I get respect, anything can be accomplished' - Shreyas Iyer opens up on leading Punjab Kings
Shreyas Iyer became the first captain to lead three different teams to IPL finals.
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The 2025 IPL season saw Punjab Kings shine under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. The right-handed batter, who had already shown moments of his captaincy, opened up about his move from Kolkata Knight Riders to Punjab Kings and the support he received in his new setup. Despite falling short in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Iyer’s captaincy and performances heaped huge praise.
Iyer, who had led KKR to their third IPL crown, made himself one of the few captains in the league to lift the title. But disagreements over his retention terms led him to enter the auction, where Punjab acquired him for INR 26.75 crore. In his debut season with PBKS, Iyer scored 604 runs at an average of 50.3 and a strike rate of 175, while also leading the team to its second-ever IPL final. Punjab narrowly missed out on the title, losing by just six runs to RCB.
“I offer a lot as a captain and player. If I get respect, anything can be accomplished. This is what happened at Punjab. They gave me all the support I needed, whether it was the coaches, management or players. I was coming off a high, having just helped India win the Champions Trophy. So all the stakeholders at Punjab Kings were eager to hear from me and have me contribute meaningfully. This allowed me to be decisive both on and off the field. I was in every meeting with the management and coaches, contributing strategically. This is something I love. I was part of the conversation, but wasn’t completely in the mix. I’ve had to work my way up to get to the position I am in now," Iyer told GQ India.
Iyer thrived alongside coach Ricky Ponting
Despite the massive price tag and the expectations, Iyer thrived alongside coach Ricky Ponting, reuniting with him after five years. Together, they brought belief into a team that had gone over a decade without reaching a final. Notably, he also created history by becoming the first-ever captain in the history of the tournament to have taken three different teams to an IPL final. He first led Delhi Capitals to the IPL final in 2020, then later lifted the title with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and recently ended as runner-ups with the Punjab-based franchise.
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