Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
For the longest possible time, MS Dhoni, the legend, the icon, has been celebrated the captain cool of CSK. But in Shreyas Iyer's calm and astute leadership, there seems to have emerged a new cult of sorts: that of the Iceman. The iceman who keeps it together under pressure: Shreyas Iyer.
As seen very avidly in the previous IPL game that saw Mumbai swept off their feet, there was a method to the carnage that Iyer was responsible for, having hit yet another fifty of his 2025 IPL edition. And in so doing, he took his new IPL outfit, Punjab Kings, straight into its first final event since 2014.
Remember Punjab have only once reached an IPL final, tonight being their second-time ever in the finality of the competition. But what cards does Iyer hold for today? And just how good a batter is he is where it comes to the contests as big and notable as the IPL final? Maybe we can understand a bit of that when he takes a closer look at the venue where it will all matter in the next few hours.
Presenting you some key knocks of Iyer at the Narendra Modi Stadium, whether for his current IPL franchise or the previous team:
Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten, match-winning 58 off 24 balls in Ahmedabad for KKR, 2024
It could be argued that one of Shreyas Iyer's most potent and prolific innings ever played here at the Narendra Modi Stadium came last year, albeit with the right-hander wearing the KKR jersey.
Surely, as the much loved KKR may still rue their decision of not retaining Iyer, it doesn't seem as though to the right hander it matters all that much. He led his previous IPL franchise valiantly and it's exactly what Shreyas Iyer has done to his new outfit as well.
However, the last time around, circa May 2024, Shreyas Iyer teamed up with Venkatesh Iyer, in helping KKR chase down a paltry ask of 160 here at the Ahmedabad ground.
In making light work of noted and exceedingly competitive bowlers of the SRH camp, Iyer was attacking against the likes of Cummins, Bhuvneshwar and Natarajan.
He scored 58 unbeaten, very valuable runs that came off merely 24 deliveries and in that precise four-over stay so to speak, he hit 5 boundaries and 4 sixes. Then, he was the captain of KKR, and now, he's captaining PBKS. All that the latter need is one big knock tonight. So Ahmedabad, what's it going to be?
The captain's knock in PBKS' opening 2025 game this season (97* off 42 balls)
It was March in 2025 and the Punjab Kings had arrived in Gujarat for their season-opener against the Gujarat Titans.
But the man who actually played and conducted himself like one was none other than Punjab captain, Shreyas Iyer. In helping his team thump, not just beat, the hosts Gujarat for what was the fifth IPL contest of the season, Iyer waltzed to a 97*-run knock that came off just 42 deliveries. He tanked up 9 sixes and made lightwork of exceptional bowlers such as Rabada and even Siraj.
Forget not, the Gujarat Titans were off to a flier in removing Prabhsimran early with the Punjab scorecard reading 28 for 1 inside 4 overs. Then came Iyer and out went the Titans' hopes of doing something incredible with the bat.
Tonight, in Ahmedabad, the RCB will have to watch out for the man of the moment, the captain cool of Punjab who bats with a sense of ease and elan. Will he score again?
MI crushed, though not in Ahmedabad, courtesy Iyer (87* off 41)
Although, the last or most recent Shreyas Iyer outing with the bat didn't take place in Ahmedabad, it still counts as a big indication of the right hander's impact for his team, both as captain but also, importantly as batter.
In eliminating a giant like the Mumbai Indians, Shreyas Iyer, the RCB better watch out tonight, played a captain's role in leading the charge with the bat from the front.
In scoring a cool headed but equally destructive 87 unbeaten runs from just 41 odd deliviers, Iyer was a perfect balance of attack and focus. He hit Bumrah for what was an incredible boundary at the third man region; this is when the delivery was very nearly a perilious yorker.
With his own form with the bat and his team's being in good rhythm, it could be said, Iyer, basis his recent form in the IPL holds the top cards for the big final against Patidar's RCB.
