Shreyas Iyer led the Punjab Kings from the front in their first IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans. PBKS registered an 11-run win over the rivals on batting-friendly tracks. Iyer scored an unbeaten 97 runs off 42 balls, with help of 10 sixes and 5 boundaries. He could have easily scored a hundred but allowed Shashank Singh to face all six deliveries in the last over, which was bowled by Mohammed Siraj.
Shashank hit five fours, and the Indian pacer conceded 23 runs. It took Punjab’s score to 243/5, with Lucknow managing 232/5. It was the selfless approach of Iyer that drew praise towards him, with former players lining up to applaud the cricketer.
Navjot Singh Sidhu compared him with MS Dhoni, the greatest Indian captain ever.
“Shreyas Iyer is like MS Dhoni. When the team wins, Dhoni gives the trophy to the players. He doesn’t take credit. He faces maximum flak and takes less credit. This is what Iyer is doing. Look at how he is inspiring his teammates.
“He allowed Shashank Singh to take all the limelight in the last over by smashing boundaries. Iyer didn’t take the strike despite being on 97. There was a chance for him to complete a century, but he kept the team above personal milestone,” he said.
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