Shreyas Iyer carries himself like a calm, tightly controlled cricketer and captain, and it is hard to know whether that is something he has trained into his game or simply comes naturally. Whatever the reason, that steadiness is exactly the kind of trait that matters in high-pressure moments. Off the field, though, he often comes across as more articulate than many players when he speaks in interviews.
Earlier in the season, after registering his maiden IPL hundred and helping Punjab Kings (PBKS) keep their playoff hopes alive, he was equally fluent with his emotions. In his comments, he described himself as “ecstatic” and “elated,” highlighted Prabhsimran Singh—who partnered with him to add 140 runs for the third wicket against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)—as “temperamentally active,” and summed up the partnership with the line that “it takes two to tango.”
This time, the feelings were impossible to miss. The breakthrough arrived only after Iyer struck the winning six with two overs still remaining, a finishing blow that also took him to his century. The victory sparked plenty of hope that Mumbai Indians would get the better of Rajasthan Royals in the final day of the league stage. Even so, the size of the win made it difficult for Kolkata Knight Riders to overhaul them if RR were to lose. That was compounded by a tough run that saw PBKS record six straight defeats after managing six consecutive wins in completed matches—circumstances under which Iyer’s emotions finally surfaced.
Speaking at the presentation, the PBKS captain said: “It’s a surreal feeling, especially when you finish off the game and you score a century. I think every batter dreams of moments like that, and today was one of those days where I personally felt super from within. I was in a great mind space. I knew what I wanted, I understood how the wicket was playing, and I was reading the situation as it unfolded—those things helped me get the runs. And the partnership was crucial too. I feel that’s what builds the momentum in the match, and to win from there, I’m seriously elated.”
As the winning captain in 2024 and a runners-up last year, Iyer began his PBKS campaign with a chase where he encouraged his batting partner not to obsess over the century milestone, but instead focus on finishing the match quickly. If this indeed turns out to be his last game for PBKS this year, he will have completed a neatly rounded two-season chapter—one in which the list of admirers around him has continued to grow. One of the earliest supporters was always Ricky Ponting, the coach during the period when Iyer first assumed IPL captaincy at Delhi Capitals.
Ponting recalled the decision to back him at the auction, saying he had a reason for spending as much as PBKS did on Iyer a couple of years earlier. “Look, he’s a ripping guy. He’s a very mature player now, he’s a very mature leader as well,” Ponting said. “More often than not, he keeps his emotions in check when he’s out there in the field, but the respect he receives from his teammates is almost second to none. The moment he walks in front of the group and starts speaking, not a single person’s eyes leave him—everyone listens to every word he says.”
He added: “I’m delighted to work with him. I’m really happy with the season he’s had. It’s great to see him back in that Indian one-day team, and I genuinely believe there’s a bigger, brighter future for him and for the Indian T20 side as well.”
When it came to the lead-up to their last league match, there were not many words. Iyer called off all team meetings and asked his group to express themselves freely. By the end of the league stage, PBKS sit among the quickest-scoring teams and also among the quickest to restrict opponents. Going into Sunday evening, they will be hoping that Mumbai Indians can deliver a result that gives them a chance to continue that same brand of fearless cricket—and to do so once again.
