In an exhilarating start to the IPL 2025 season, Punjab Kings triumphed over Gujarat Titans by 11 runs, thanks to the outstanding captaincy and batting performance of Shreyas Iyer. The match showcased a thrilling chase, with Punjab Kings initially struggling at 105 for 4 but ultimately posting a formidable total of 243 runs for 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Shreyas played a pivotal role, scoring an impressive 97 not out off just 42 balls, while Shashank Singh contributed a valuable 44 not out.
A Nail-Biting Finish – Punjab set a challenging target of 244 runs for Gujarat, who fought hard but fell short, finishing their innings at 232 runs for 5 wickets. Despite coming close to victory, they couldn’t cross the finish line, handing Punjab Kings a well-deserved win. Shreyas Iyer’s remarkable innings earned him the Player of the Match award, and he broke records previously held by Sanju Samson and Faf du Plessis, marking a significant milestone in his career. In his innings, Shreyas hit 9 sixes and 5 fours, narrowly missing out on a century by just 3 runs. This match marked his 14th fifty-plus score as a captain in the IPL, surpassing the records of Samson and du Plessis, who each have 13. Additionally, with this performance, Shreyas became the seventh player in IPL history to score over 2000 runs as a captain, joining the elite company of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir, David Warner, and KL Rahul.
A Winning Start for Punjab Kings – Shreyas Iyer’s leadership has already proven effective, as he secured a victory in his debut match as captain for Punjab Kings. Remarkably, this is the third team he has captained in the IPL, having previously led Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders to wins in their opening matches as well. This achievement highlights his ability to inspire and lead teams to success right from the start. Shreyas’s performance in this match not only set a new benchmark for his captaincy but also improved his own record. In his debut match as captain for Delhi, he scored 93 runs off 40 balls, but this time he raised the bar with his 97 runs against Gujarat. His consistent performance as a captain continues to make waves in the IPL, and fans are eager to see how he will lead Punjab Kings throughout the season.
