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India Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Captain Marvel: Shreyas Iyer one win away from his moment in the sun
"I felt I didn't receive the recognition I deserved after winning the IPL, but at the end of the day, as long as you have self-integrity and you continue doing the right things when no one is watching, that's what truly matters – and that's what I kept doing," Shreyas Iyer said, reflecting on why he chose to leave KKR despite leading the side to an IPL wasn't a quote made for the cameras. It was a sentence soaked in silence — the kind that lingers after the lights have dimmed and the applause has faded. Iyer wasn't just talking about cricket; he was speaking about what it feels like to be invisible in plain Kolkata Knight Riders captain, he barely put a foot wrong during their 2024 IPL-winning campaign, but the presence of Gautam Gambhir, Chandrakant Pandit and Abhishek Nayar in the dugout meant Shreyas's leadership was often overshadowed. And yet, by leading Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title against Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, he proved there's more to his captaincy than merely executing instructions from the Read: IPL 2025 final preview, RCB vs PBKS: 17-year wait, 18th attempt, one dreamadvertisementA few months later, Shreyas Iyer became Punjab Kings' 17th captain — yes, seventeenth. If that doesn't tell you everything about the franchise's identity crisis, nothing after years of chopping and changing, of false dawns and fleeting hopes, with one win away from their maiden title, PBKS finally found their Sarpanch — a leader the fans worship, the coach trusts, and the owners can't stop smiling leader that CSK has always had in MS Dhoni, MI have in Rohit Sharma and RCB in Virat Punjab Kings fans are going gaga over Shreyas. A clip from the podcast The Boundary Boys, where the host promises Shreyas Iyer 100 acres of land, a 10-acre mansion, and even a Canadian bride — all on one condition: lead Punjab Kings to their maiden IPL THE MAN WITH THE MIDAS TOUCH Shreyas Iyer is currently the sixth highest run-scorer in IPL 2025. Courtesy: AP Cricket rarely offers fairy tales, but it often rewards persistence. Shreyas Iyer, once a mainstay in the Indian team, was overlooked for a central contract in 2024 after missing early-season domestic matches – a requirement set by the BCCI. He had withdrawn from a Ranji Trophy match in February 2024 due to injury concerns, prompting disciplinary response? returned to domestic cricket and played a pivotal role in Mumbai's successful run — lifting the Ranji Trophy, the Irani Cup, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali then made his way back into India's ODI side for the England series and carried that momentum into the title-winning Champions Trophy campaign, where he emerged as India's leading scorer with 243 runs in five matches, including two three months later, well past midnight on June 2, Shreyas Iyer played a gladiator's knock to seal Punjab Kings' spot in the final. With this, he became only the second captain — after MS Dhoni — to take more than one franchise to the IPL final. More remarkably, he's the only one to lead three different teams to the final in successive PONTING CONNECTION Shreyas Iyer has flourished with Ricky Ponting as coach. Courtesy: PTI Shreyas Iyer's stock soared to Rs 26.75 crore — the second-highest IPL auction bid in history — as Punjab's dogged pursuit finally succeeded. It took the vision and persistence of newly appointed head coach Ricky Ponting to secure Shreyas Iyer and steer PBKS to their first final since 2014."I was pretty keen to work with him again," Ponting said. "It was obvious how much I valued him – we had a great working relationship at Delhi and even made the final in 2020 under his captaincy. He's a quality person. When you're trying to build a winning culture, you need people like that."Since his recall into the Indian ODI side in February, Shreyas has made it a habit to deliver match-winning and impactful innings across formats. In IPL 2025, as Punjab's captain, he has led from the front. After losing the Qualifier 1, Shreyas said his team had lost the battle and not the war. And boy, he batted like a true champion in the very next game against Mumbai Indians, battling the Jasprit Bumrah-led bowling attack to score match-winning 87: probably one of his finest innings of his IPL ANCHOR TO ENFORCERLast year at KKR, Shreyas often played second fiddle. At Punjab, he's had to carry more responsibility — as their designated enforcer in a line-up without high-profile overseas match one, Ponting spoke about witnessing a new version of Shreyas: confident, assertive, and numbers back it up. For the first time, Iyer has crossed 600 runs in an IPL season. Most tellingly, his strike rate — 175.80 — is far above his career T20 average of 133.40. Having struck just 30 sixes across his last three seasons, he's smashed 39 this year last year, Shreyas has won every major trophy he's chased — IPL 2024 with KKR, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Mumbai, and the ICC Champions Trophy with SHREYAS IYER INDIA CAPTAINCY MATERIAL? Shreyas Iyer has led three different teams to IPL finals. Courtesy: AP Taking the reins as Punjab Kings' captain in IPL 2025, Shreyas has transformed the side into a force to reckon with. His astute leadership and match-winning performances have instilled a winning mentality in a squad long starved of his success with Punjab Kings has reignited conversations around his suitability for India's you, Shreyas is not currently part of India's Test or T20I squads. He wasn't picked for the upcoming England series, nor did he feature in the last T20I he was India's MVP in the Champions Trophy — where the team, led by Rohit Sharma, remained strategic nous in IPL 2025, especially with PBKS, has been key to their first playoff appearance in over a decade.'I've said this time and again and I'll say it AGAIN!! Iyer will captain India in multiple formats!! He has to!! He's that good,' wrote Robin Uthappa on Gavaskar, too, feels Iyer didn't get due credit for KKR's title win in 2024 — possibly hinting at Gambhir's dominant presence."All the plaudits were given to someone else. It's the captain who influences what happens on the pitch, not someone sitting in the dugout,' Gavaskar said on Star Sports. 'This year he's getting the credit. No one's giving it all to Ponting."RCB VS PBKS – LEGACY ON THE LINERCB and PBKS have never won an IPL title, despite being part of the league since its inception. Alongside Delhi Capitals, they form what social media cheekily calls the 'Holy Trinity' — franchises with loyal fanbases who've learnt to wear heartbreak with humour and a sense of shared Shreyas Iyer — 603 runs this season — a second consecutive IPL final tells its own story. He is now the only player in tournament history to lead three different teams to the it's not just perseverance that defines him — it's hunger. The same hunger that burned when he first walked into the PBKS dressing room still fuels him today, fiercer than ever, ahead of the biggest match of the loud. Those maximums were louderCaptain Shreyas Iyer puts #PBKS on the brink of a seat in the GRAND FINALUpdates | #PBKSvMI | #Qualifier2 | #TheLastMile | @ShreyasIyer15 IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 1, 2025On Tuesday, he'll face a revitalised RCB side led by an India teammate, Virat Kohli — a player he stood beside during that painful World Cup semi-final loss on this very ground in 2023. While Kohli has always had the nation's love, Iyer has had to earn every cheer, every his success as a captain and a batter for DC, KKR and India, he has never truly been embraced — not by a franchise, nor by the national selectors. Somewhere along the way, he even lost his central Shreyas leads a side that has never lifted the IPL trophy — but he has. And yet, he's never had a team or a nation rally around him as their own quite like Punjab fans have around their Sarpanch the fight is far from over.A win on Tuesday would end Punjab's 18-year wait — and answer every unasked question about Shreyas Iyer's leadership, intent, and is no longer Shreyas Iyer, the overlooked is Shreyas Iyer, the man who made Punjab Kings come Tuesday night, the world will might finally see Shreyas Iyer as the true leader: IPL's Captain updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Tune InTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Hans India
18 hours 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.
Hans India
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Hans India
JEE Advanced 2025 Results Declared by IIT Kanpur: Check Scorecard, AIR & JoSAA Counselling Details
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.
News18
21 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
'He Only Rejects': Gambhir Slammed For 'Not A Selector' Remark On Shreyas Iyer
Last Updated: Atul Wassan criticized Gautam Gambhir for his comment on Shreyas Iyer's omission from India's Test squad for the England tour, arguing that coaches influence team selection. Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Atul Wassan criticised Gautam Gambhir for his remark on Mumbai cricketer Shreyas Iyer's omission from the country's squad for the five-Test tour of England in the summer. A reporter asked Gambhir about the subject, and the men's head coach tried to avoid it with a curt, 'I am not a selector'. Wassan took an objection to it, saying that coaches have a significant role in these decisions and taunting Gambhir for being the one who 'rejects' players instead. 'He doesn't select, he only rejects," Wassan said on the Bails and Banter show on the OTTplay. 'The coach has a role in team selection, and selectors also listen to them before naming the squad," Wassan said. However, Wassan also backed Gambhir for having the team he desired, saying he deserves that freedom whether the selection works or not. 'If he (Gambhir) has been given this position, then I think he deserves to go with his feeling, whether it's right or wrong," Wassan added. Iyer last played Test matches for India against England at home in February 2024. He was dropped midway through the series due to poor form and a back issue. Since then, he has only participated in international white-ball formats. However, his performance in the most recent Ranji Trophy season was impressive: he scored 480 runs at an average of 68.57, including two centuries, as Mumbai reached the tournament's semi-finals. His place in the Test 11 was taken by the likes of Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan. For this England tour, his name was doing the rounds again because seniors Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had both vacated their spots. In the press conference announcing the squad, chief selector Ajit Agarkar was also asked about his absence despite his IPL and white-ball form. Agarkar gave a more detailed answer. 'Shreyas Iyer had a good One-Day series," Agarkar said. 'When the reporter nudged him about Iyer's domestic form, Agarkar said, 'He did well in domestic but at the moment there is no room but if he keeps doing well, I am sure he will find a spot back in test cricket at some stage," he added. Shreyas will lead Punjab Kings in the second Qualifier for IPL 2025 against Mumbai Indians on Sunday. First Published:
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ricky Ponting has tense exchange with umpires after rain delays PBKS vs MI Qualifier 2, Yuzvendra Chahal joins in
Anshul Kamboj, a 24-year-old Haryana pacer, impressed in the unofficial Test against England Lions, taking crucial wickets. Known for his 10-wicket haul in Ranji Trophy, he's emerging as a promising talent with CSK IPL experience and praised by MS Dhoni.
