New Delhi: With Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy Punjab kings It started properly, as he inspired his team for an exciting 11 -run win over Gujarat’s Titans at his IPL 2025 Clash at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. His commanding 97, with bat and surprising leadership, helped Punjab Kings win a high scoring win in the nail-biting competition.
For the first time on the field in the Punjab Kings, Iyer faced confidence on the toss, admitting that he too would have chosen for the field. Despite losing the toss, he left his mark with the bat, in total of 243/5 to Punjab.
However, he missed out what a well -worthy century would be, Iyer’s knock was widely appreciated. When he became unbeaten on 97, a smile on his face talked about volume – his primary focus was on helping Punjab Kings, a team was still pursuing its first IPL title since the establishment of the tournament in 2008.
At the end of the 19th over, Iyer was at 97*, with Shashank Singh at 10 balls at 22 at the other end. Giving priority to the success of the team on individual milestones, Iyer approached Shashank before the final and urged him to focus on the maximum run completely. Shashank pushed Punjab Kings in a big way, breaking the five borders from the over of Mohammad Siraj.
In response, Titans of Gujarat ended at 232/5, despite the impressive contribution from Sai Sudarshan (74), Shubman Gill (33), and Jose Butler (54), and fell short, but decreased. Sherfen Rutherford’s explosive 46 provided late hope, but the target proved to be very high.
For his selfless 97* and match-winning leadership, Iyer was named the match player, who establishes tone for the Punjab Kings’s campaign in IPL 2025.
“I did not get out of 97 in the first match and in the initial game of the season for us, I had to face the first ball and I got it. It was going away from six from Rabada. 44 runs scored 16–17 runs. He was very important for the team. He is in where he comes with the right attitude.
“Arshdeep played an important role in it. He came in and said that the ball is really a little reversed, so the saliva bowlers on the ball are helping them. They got Sai and helped us. We did not leave any stone unturned before the season starts.
Punjab Kings will face Lucknow super veterans at Ekna Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 1 April.
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