Shreyas Iyer's Leadership Shines as PBKS Advances to IPL 2025 Final

Calmness Under Pressure: Shreyas Iyer's Key to Success

Shreyas Iyer, the captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS), highlighted the significance of maintaining composure during tense moments, asserting that high-stakes situations often yield the best outcomes.

During the recent match against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he emphasized the importance of focusing on his breathing and urged his teammates to adopt a proactive approach while pursuing challenging targets.

Iyer's leadership was pivotal as PBKS successfully chased down a target of 204 runs, defeating MI by five wickets in Qualifier 2, thereby securing a spot in the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Iyer's Impressive Performance in the Run-Chase

Iyer delivered a spectacular performance, scoring 87 runs off just 41 balls, leading PBKS to victory with an over to spare. Josh Inglis contributed significantly with a quickfire 38 runs from 21 balls, including a remarkable 20 runs in one over bowled by Jasprit Bumrah.

"I thrive in high-pressure situations. I always remind myself and my teammates that staying calm during crucial moments leads to better results. Today was a perfect example; I concentrated on my breathing rather than feeling overwhelmed. For a successful chase of over 200 runs, every player must display assertiveness from the very first ball. The intent was exceptional, and I needed to take my time as well," Iyer stated in the post-match interview.

Bouncing Back After a Setback

Iyer also spoke about the team's resilience following a defeat to RCB earlier in the season. He noted, "The batsmen from the other end were performing well. The more time I spend on the field, the better I become, and my vision improves. After the loss to RCB, it’s essential to discard any negative thoughts and focus on our strong performances throughout the season."

The partnership between Nehal Wadhera and Shreyas Iyer was crucial, as they combined for 84 runs for the fourth wicket before Ashwani Kumar dismissed Wadhera in the 16th over. In the first innings, MI set a challenging target with notable contributions from Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav, both scoring 44 runs each.

For his outstanding innings of 87 runs, which included five fours and eight sixes, Shreyas Iyer was named Player of the Match.