‘Sarpanch sahab' Shreyas Iyer: Man with the golden touch—took three teams to IPL finals but fell short for Punjab Kings

Time of India

2 days ago

Live Events
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
'Jahan matter bade hote hai, wahan sarpanch sahab khade hote hai,' his Punjab Kings (PBKS) deputy Shashank Singh had said after Iyer's 87* in Qualifier 2. And it's true. When the stakes are high, Shreyas Iyer is never far. Statistics are proof.Despite proving his worth, Iyer fell just short to create history to become first captain to lift three consecutive IPL titles with three different teams.For Iyer, this marked a second straight IPL final in as many seasons, but this time in red, not the purple of Kolkata Knight Riders or the blue of Delhi Capitals . His career, particularly in knockout matches, has become a pattern of high-stakes performances and leadership under pressure. Across formats and domestic levels, few Indian cricketers have maintained such consistency in finals.Iyer's record in tournament finals underscores his reputation as a dependable performer. He has featured in 16 finals across T20, List A, and first-class formats, scoring 940 runs in 21 innings at an average of 52.22.With two centuries and seven fifties, Iyer has ended up on the winning side in ten of those matches.In T20 finals, he has played four games and scored 121 runs with two not outs, averaging 60.5. He has one half-century in these matches, including a 65* for Delhi Capitals in the 2020 final. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2022 and 2024 finals, he contributed key runs to help Mumbai win both. His unbeaten 87 in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians is now among the standout individual knocks of IPL 2025.In white-ball finals, Iyer has amassed 413 runs across 10 games with an average of 51.62. His highest score came in the 2018-19 Deodhar Trophy final, when he made 148 for India B. He played supporting roles in India's 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2017-18 Deodhar Trophy triumphs.In red-ball cricket, Iyer's impact has been no different. His 117 in the 2015-16 Ranji final helped Mumbai clinch the title. In the 2023-24 final, he scored a vital 95 in the second innings. He also contributed in Mumbai's Irani Cup wins and West Zone's Duleep Trophy victory.Iyer's leadership in 2024 was pivotal for KKR's IPL win. Now with Punjab Kings, a franchise often labelled as underachievers, he has guided them to a final after a decade-long wait.His run to this final has not been without setbacks. After being excluded from BCCI's central contracts in 2023-24, Iyer returned with performances in domestic cricket, including wins in the Ranji Trophy, SMAT, and Irani Cup for Mumbai. He carried that form into IPL 2024 and into the current season with PBKS.He also played a key role in India's campaigns in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. In the World Cup, he scored 530 runs at an average of 66.25. He was India's top-scorer in the Champions Trophy with 243 runs, including two fifties. In 2025 so far, he has scored 424 runs in eight ODIs at an average of 53.00.In IPL 2025, Iyer has added over 600 runs, with six half-centuries. His consistency in crunch moments and experience in finals makes him a central figure in Tuesday's clash.While much of the focus remains on Virat Kohli and RCB's long wait for a title, Iyer's journey has quietly built a parallel narrative—of redemption, leadership, and big-match temperament.