Shreyas Iyer to lead Punjab Kings in IPL 2025

The team that was under the guidance of Shreyas Iyer saw it win the title of 2024, where Shreyas Iyer left the franchise, which was announced later during the year and has been taken up by the Punjab Kings at an auction for the price of INR 26.75 Crore. He is the second most expensive signing in the auctions.

In the last 12 months, Iyer, 30, has played some genuinely match-winning innings for Kolkata Knight Riders and in domestic cricket and the IPL. He was also the captain of the Mumbai team that won the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and was a member of the Ranji Trophy-winning side and the Irani Trophy squad during the same season.

Iyer welcomed the latest development and will look to change fortunes for a franchise that is yet to win an IPL title. Kings' best season came way back in 2014 when they reached the final only to be beaten by Kolkata Knight Riders. PBKS had a reasonably successful mega auction and Iyer believes that the side assembled is good enough to go all the way.

"I am honored that the team has reposed its faith in me. I am looking forward to working again with Coach Ponting. The team looks strong, with a great mix of potential and proven performers. I hope to repay the faith shown by the management to deliver our maiden title."

Iyer being the captain is going to be a repeat of the formidable captain-coach combination of him and Ricky Ponting that had taken Delhi Capitals to their first ever IPL final in 2020. The Australian was effusive in his praise for Iyer's credentials and looked buoyed to work together for a fresh stint.

"Shreyas has a tremendous mind for the game. His proven capabilities as captain will allow the team to deliver. I have loved playing with Iyer in the past in IPL and look forward to working with him again. With his leadership and the talent in the squad, I'm really excited about the seasons ahead."

Right from the day he was bought at a stellar price, Iyer was tipped to be the frontrunner for Punjab's captaincy. CEO Satish Menon revealed that it was a big play behind the francise's aggressive bid for the Mumbai batter. Like Iyer and Ponting, Menon also hopes that this captain-coach combination will help Punjab to have a redemption from the 2025 season onwards.

"We had earmarked Shreyas as our captain and were very pleased with the result of the auction. He has already proven himself to be master of the format, and his vision for the team is precisely what we look forward to in the near future. With him and Ponting again at the helm, we feel our team has a well-balanced leadership group to guide us to our first title.".