Shreyas Iyer's Calm Leadership Guides Punjab Kings to IPL Final

Shreyas Iyer's Strategy for Success

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India] June 2: Shreyas Iyer, the captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS), highlighted the significance of maintaining composure during intense moments, asserting that high-stakes situations often yield the best outcomes.

During the match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), he emphasized the importance of focusing on his breathing and the necessity for all players to exhibit assertiveness when pursuing a challenging target.

Leading by example, Iyer played a pivotal role in PBKS's successful chase, securing a five-wicket victory over MI in Qualifier 2, which earned them a spot in the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

His impressive innings of 87 runs off just 41 balls helped PBKS reach the target of 204 with one over remaining. Josh Inglis also contributed significantly, scoring a rapid 38 runs off 21 balls, including a remarkable 20 runs in one over bowled by Jasprit Bumrah.

Reflecting on his calmness while batting, Iyer stated, “I thrive in big moments. I always remind myself and my teammates that staying calm during crucial times leads to better results. Today was a perfect example; I concentrated on my breathing instead of getting anxious.” He added, “When chasing a target over 200, it’s crucial for every player to show intent from the very first ball. The team’s intent was exceptional, and I had to take my time to settle in.”

Iyer also spoke about the team's resilience following a previous defeat to RCB earlier in the season. He noted, “The other batsmen were performing well. The more I play, the more my understanding improves. After the loss to RCB, it’s important to forget the setbacks and not dwell on our mistakes, as we have been playing exceptionally well throughout the season.”

The partnership between Nehal Wadhera and Shreyas Iyer was a highlight of the Punjab innings, as they combined for 84 runs for the fourth wicket before Ashwani Kumar dismissed Wadhera in the 16th over. In the first innings, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav made significant contributions for MI, each scoring 44 runs, leading to a total of 203/6 in their 20 overs.

For his outstanding performance, Shreyas Iyer was named Player of the Match, with his innings featuring five fours and eight sixes.