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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Sarpanch sahab' Shreyas Iyer: Man with the golden touch—took three teams to IPL finals but fell short for Punjab Kings
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 proving his worth, Iyer fell just short to create history to become first captain to lift three consecutive IPL titles with three different 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 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 two centuries and seven fifties, Iyer has ended up on the winning side in ten of those 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
From IPL To Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Shreyas Iyer's Love Affair With Finals
Shreyas Iyer will walk into his second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) final on Tuesday evening, but this time not in the purple and gold of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He will instead be donning the red of Punjab Kings (PBKS), as they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Iyer's blistering 87 off just 41 balls in the Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI) took Punjab to their second IPL final after eleven years. Few players in Indian cricket carry such a prolific record on the grandest stage of domestic and international competitions. In T20 finals alone, Iyer has made four appearances. He scored an unbeaten 65 for Delhi Capitals (DC) in their 2020 IPL final loss to Mumbai Indians. Representing Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2022 final, he chipped in with a composed 34 in a victorious effort against Himachal Pradesh. In the IPL 2024 final with KKR, he remained not out on 6 as his team clinched the title against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Most recently, in the SMAT 2024 final, Iyer contributed 16 runs for Mumbai in a winning effort against Madhya Pradesh. Across these four T20 finals, Iyer has scored 121 runs in four innings with two not outs, averaging an outstanding 60.5 with one half-century, while finishing on the winning side in three of those encounters. When it comes to white-ball finals overall, encompassing both T20 and List A formats, Iyer has featured in 10 such matches. Across ten innings, with two of those being unbeaten, he has compiled 413 runs at a stellar average of 51.62. His highest score in a white-ball final came in the 2018-19 Deodhar Trophy final, where he blazed his way to 148 for India B against India C, although it came in a losing cause. In the 2017-18 Deodhar Trophy final, he scored 61 for India B against Karnataka in a winning effort. He also registered 48 for India in the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, playing a crucial supporting role in India's title win. In earlier appearances, he had scored 24 for India B in the 2015-16 Deodhar Trophy final, which ended in defeat, and 7 for Mumbai in the 2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy final against Delhi, a match Mumbai won. Out of these ten white-ball finals, Iyer has been part of the winning team six times. In first-class cricket finals, Iyer has maintained his reputation as a high-impact player. His breakthrough came in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy final against Saurashtra, where he struck a majestic 117 and was named 'Player of the Match' in Mumbai's title win. More recently, in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha, he scored a crucial 95 in the second innings, and a 7 in the first, guiding his side to yet another title. In the 2016 Irani Cup, representing Mumbai against the Rest of India, Iyer scored 55 in the first innings before falling for a duck in the second, as Mumbai went down in a close contest. Playing for the Rest of India in the 2019 Irani Cup final against Vidarbha, he scored 19 in the first innings and an unbeaten 61 in the second, though the team ended on the losing side. In 2024, Iyer once again featured in the Irani Cup, this time representing Mumbai against the Rest of India, scoring 57 and 8 to help Mumbai clinch a memorable win. He also played a key role in the 2022 Duleep Trophy final for West Zone against South Zone, making scores of 37 and 71 in a successful outing. Cumulatively, across all formats, T20, List A, and first-class, Iyer has featured in 16 tournament finals, batting in 21 innings and remaining not out on three occasions. He has scored a total of 940 runs at an average of 52.22. These performances include two centuries and seven half-centuries. Out of the 16 finals he has featured in, his teams have emerged victorious ten times. Now, as he gears up for yet another final, this time leading Punjab Kings. Iyer carries with him not just form, but a proven pedigree in finals cricket. His unbeaten 87 against Mumbai in Qualifier 2 has already stamped his authority on this season's playoffs. Listen to the latest songs, only on
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Shreyas Iyer's love affair with finals
New Delhi [India], June 3 (ANI): Shreyas Iyer will walk into his second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) final on Tuesday evening, but this time not in the purple and gold of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He will instead be donning the red of Punjab Kings (PBKS), as they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Iyer's blistering 87 off just 41 balls in the Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI) took Punjab to their second IPL final after eleven years. Few players in Indian cricket carry such a prolific record on the grandest stage of domestic and international competitions. In T20 finals alone, Iyer has made four appearances. He scored an unbeaten 65 for Delhi Capitals (DC) in their 2020 IPL final loss to Mumbai Indians. Representing Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2022 final, he chipped in with a composed 34 in a victorious effort against Himachal Pradesh. In the IPL 2024 final with KKR, he remained not out on 6 as his team clinched the title against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Most recently, in the SMAT 2024 final, Iyer contributed 16 runs for Mumbai in a winning effort against Madhya Pradesh. Across these four T20 finals, Iyer has scored 121 runs in four innings with two not outs, averaging an outstanding 60.5 with one half-century, while finishing on the winning side in three of those encounters. When it comes to white-ball finals overall, encompassing both T20 and List A formats, Iyer has featured in 10 such matches. Across ten innings, with two of those being unbeaten, he has compiled 413 runs at a stellar average of 51.62. His highest score in a white-ball final came in the 2018-19 Deodhar Trophy final, where he blazed his way to 148 for India B against India C, although it came in a losing cause. In the 2017-18 Deodhar Trophy final, he scored 61 for India B against Karnataka in a winning effort. He also registered 48 for India in the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, playing a crucial supporting role in India's title win. In earlier appearances, he had scored 24 for India B in the 2015-16 Deodhar Trophy final, which ended in defeat, and 7 for Mumbai in the 2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy final against Delhi, a match Mumbai won. Out of these ten white-ball finals, Iyer has been part of the winning team six times. In first-class cricket finals, Iyer has maintained his reputation as a high-impact player. His breakthrough came in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy final against Saurashtra, where he struck a majestic 117 and was named 'Player of the Match' in Mumbai's title win. More recently, in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha, he scored a crucial 95 in the second innings, and a 7 in the first, guiding his side to yet another title. In the 2016 Irani Cup, representing Mumbai against the Rest of India, Iyer scored 55 in the first innings before falling for a duck in the second, as Mumbai went down in a close contest. Playing for the Rest of India in the 2019 Irani Cup final against Vidarbha, he scored 19 in the first innings and an unbeaten 61 in the second, though the team ended on the losing side. In 2024, Iyer once again featured in the Irani Cup, this time representing Mumbai against the Rest of India, scoring 57 and 8 to help Mumbai clinch a memorable win. He also played a key role in the 2022 Duleep Trophy final for West Zone against South Zone, making scores of 37 and 71 in a successful outing. Cumulatively, across all formats, T20, List A, and first-class, Iyer has featured in 16 tournament finals, batting in 21 innings and remaining not out on three occasions. He has scored a total of 940 runs at an average of 52.22. These performances include two centuries and seven half-centuries. Out of the 16 finals he has featured in, his teams have emerged victorious ten times. Now, as he gears up for yet another final, this time leading Punjab Kings. Iyer carries with him not just form, but a proven pedigree in finals cricket. His unbeaten 87 against Mumbai in Qualifier 2 has already stamped his authority on this season's playoffs. (ANI)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
IPL Final 2025: Captain Finale Shreyas Iyer & Rajat Patidar march toward an unconquered throne
Fate can be ruthless. And in sport, its cruelty often feels personal. Just ask Virat Kohli. For all his records, match-winning knocks, and relentless passion, one trophy continues to elude him: The IPL. Season after season, the dream slips just out of reach. For Kohli, it's not about form or failure, it's about timing, and timing, sadly, hasn't been on his side. Then there's Shreyas Iyer : A captain who's done almost everything right. He's led with composure, delivered under pressure, and lifted titles at every possible level. Yet, the recognition rarely matches the results. And even fate can't be blamed now. Tonight, he meets Rajat Patidar from RCB, and both the skippers are ready to walk towards that unconquered throne for Punjab and Bengaluru- the IPL trophy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 'Swing is King': Mr. Hemant's Strategy Finally Explained in Free Session TradeWise Learn More Undo Iyer created history Iyer has taken a team, which were not even close to being called underdogs and have survived 18 years in the cash-rich league with the tag of 'chokers', into the finals, finally. Also Read: IPL final fight- $12 billion Indian Premier League glitz set to end season after creating history Live Events Iyer is closer to achieve a feat no one has done. It is to win an IPL title with two different teams. Having led KKR to the title last season, and the 30-year-old batsman has the chance to create history if PBKS lift their maiden trophy under his captaincy. A 25-year-old Iyer, back in 2020, had also taken Delhi Capitals to their maiden finals, falling just short to Mumbai Indians from that coveted trophy. 2023-24 was a year marked with setbacks for the Mumbai lad. However, he rose and only rose after he was dropped by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from their central contract list. Iyer responded with his performances on the field, starting with domestic tournaments. He played a key role in Mumbai's successful season, winning the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). Iyer also led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an IPL title in 2024, showcasing his leadership skills alongside dependable middle-order contributions. These efforts revived his place in the national team setup. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, the middle-order batsman smashed 530 runs at an average of 66.25 and a strike rate of 113.24 with a highest score of 128* vs Netherlands. Also Read: 'We need to do our best for Virat Kohli', says RCB's Patidar ahead of crucial IPL final against PBKS He returned to India's ODI side during the England series and carried that momentum into the ICC Champions Trophy, where he became India's top scorer with 243 runs in five matches, including two half-centuries. In 2025, Iyer has featured in eight ODIs, scoring 424 runs at an average of 53.00, with four fifties. His form continued in the IPL, Iyer has contributed over 600 runs, including six fifties and highest score of 97 not out. 'Rookie' Rajat enters the big club M Chinnaswamy Stadium and the chants of 'RCB! RCB!' go hand in hand even the Kohli-featuring team is not playing. Same was the case on December 15 last year during the SMAT final. Even though RCB weren't playing, the chants echoed and it was Madhya Pradesh's Rajat Patidar, who was the lone RCB link, and his unbeaten 81 off 40 balls was the highlight of their innings. But it was Shreyas Iyer's Mumbai side that took home the trophy, winning by five wickets. Fast forward five months, and the stage is bigger, the stakes higher. On the eve of the IPL 2025 final , Patidar and Iyer sat on either side of the coveted trophy- both chasing a maiden title for their franchises, RCB and Punjab Kings respectively. But while they share that goal, their journeys couldn't be more different. If Iyer is building a legacy, Rajat Patidar is just beginning to write his story, one no one quite saw coming. And if fate owes someone redemption, it might be Iyer. But if it's time for someone new to be embraced by destiny, it could well be Rookie Rajat. While Iyer has clawed his way back to the top with performances and poise, Patidar's rise has been quiet, steady, and unexpected. Just months ago, he hadn't captained a senior side at any level. Now, he finds himself leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru, a team that has forever carried the weight of unmet expectations, into an IPL final. Patidar doesn't command the limelight. He doesn't walk into press conferences with swagger or rally his troops with grand speeches. But what he does bring is calm, a kind of understated leadership that has surprisingly clicked with RCB this season, alongside his fearless deputy Jitesh Sharma. Even with the bat, Patidar has walked in at crucial moments and managed to finish the match for the Royal Challengers, having scored 286 runs this year. Where Iyer leads with experience and intent, Patidar leads with clarity and instinct. One is fighting to cement his place in history. The other, perhaps unknowingly, is shaping a fresh chapter in RCB's long and turbulent tale.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Shreyas Iyer's 87 Knocks Out MI, Ignites Selection Row; But BCCI Slaps ₹24 Lakh Fine for Slow Over Rate
In what many are calling a glaring oversight, Shreyas Iyer, despite an outstanding run as both leader and batsman, has been left out of the Team India squad, even as Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant step in as captain and vice-captain. The decision comes despite Iyer's consistent performance across formats and tournaments, including a match-winning masterclass in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2. An Unstoppable 15-Month Streak Iyer's recent cricketing journey reads like a champion's resume: Ranji Trophy winner with Mumbai IPL 2024 champion with Kolkata Knight Riders Irani Cup winner with Mumbai Clinched the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) as the captain of Mumbai Champions Trophy winner Now in the IPL 2025 Final with Punjab Kings Qualifier 2 Heroics: Statement Knock When It Mattered Most Just last night, Iyer delivered a captain's performance of the highest order. His unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls dismantled the five-time champions Mumbai Indians, steering Punjab Kings to a five-wicket victory in Qualifier 2. Despite leading Punjab Kings to a stunning victory over Mumbai Indians, Shreyas Iyer finds himself at the center of two major talking points- his omission from India's playing squad, and a hefty ₹24 lakh fine imposed by the BCCI for a slow over rate. Adding to the post-match drama, BCCI also fined Hardik Pandya for the same over-rate infraction, intensifying debate over leadership and accountability on the field. With the win, Punjab Kings entered their first final since 2014, and as the IPL marks its 18th season, it guarantees a new champion will be crowned. PBKS are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru; four-time finalists on Tuesday, June 3. Team India Exclusion: A Shocking Call? Despite these heroics, Iyer has been overlooked in favor of a younger leadership duo. The decision has triggered a wave of reactions from fans and pundits alike. Many are questioning what more Iyer needs to do to earn his spot back. Many took to social media to question the selectors' decision to leave out a player who has consistently delivered under pressure this season. His fitness, once a point of concern, is now proven. His form is peaking. And his leadership is delivering trophies. Still in the Race With the IPL 2025 final approaching and Iyer in prime form, there may still be time for the selectors to reconsider.
