In the mega auction of IPL 2025, Punjab Kings bought Shreyas Iyer for Rs 26.75 crore.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday appointed star batsman Shreyas Iyer as the new captain of the team for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). Punjab Kings had made a huge bid for Shreyas Iyer in the mega auction held last year. Punjab had bought him for Rs 26.75 crore. During this period, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals had also bid for the experienced player.
Shreyas Iyer will work closely with head coach Ricky Ponting, with whom he was at Delhi Capitals when the team reached the final of the 2020 IPL. In such a situation, now the fans of Punjab are hopeful that with the arrival of Iyer, the fortunes of their team will change and he will give Punjab its first title this year.
Shreyas Iyer expressed gratitude to Punjab Kings franchise
Shreyas Iyer, who made Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) the champion last season, expressed his gratitude to the Punjab Kings management. Shreyas said, “I feel honored that the team has expressed its confidence in me. I look forward to working with Coach Ponting again. The team looks strong, with a great mix of players. I hope that we will justify the faith shown by the team management by winning our first title.”
Shreyas Iyer became the captain for the first time in IPL in 2018. He became the captain of Delhi Capitals in place of Gautam Gambhir in the middle of the season. Under his captaincy, Delhi managed to reach the playoffs in 2019 after seven years. But in Qualifier-2, Delhi had to face defeat at the hands of Chennai Super Kings.
Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, Delhi team reached the IPL final for the first time in 2020. But had to face defeat from Mumbai in the title match. In 2022, Shreyas Iyer was bought by Kolkata, where he captained for two seasons and also made the team champion last season. Shreyas Iyer is the 16th captain of the Punjab Kings franchise.