Shreyas Iyer: An IPL Captain Like No Other
Punjab Kings secured their spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs with a thrilling 10-run victory over Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. The win wasn’t just about the result, though. It cemented Shreyas Iyer‘s place in IPL history.
A Historic Achievement
Iyer became the first captain ever to lead three different teams into the IPL playoffs! This remarkable feat follows his previous successes leading Delhi Capitals in 2019 and 2020, and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024. Now, with Punjab, he’s achieved this incredible milestone once again.
Only five players have ever captained three different IPL franchises:
- Steve Smith (Rajasthan Royals, Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant)
- Kumar Sangakkara (Punjab Kings, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad)
- Mahela Jayawardene (Punjab Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Delhi Capitals)
- Ajinkya Rahane (Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, Kolkata Knight Riders)
- Shreyas Iyer (Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings)
Notably, only Iyer and Sangakkara have led all three teams on a full-time basis.
A Dominant Display
Punjab Kings set a formidable target of 219 for 5, thanks to brilliant performances from Nehal Wadhera (70 off 37 balls), Shashank Singh (unbeaten 59), and captain Iyer himself (30).
Rajasthan Royals fought hard in their chase, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (50) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (40) putting on a 76-run partnership. However, left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar (3/22) delivered the crucial breakthrough, sparking a collapse that ultimately saw them fall short at 209 for 7.
Looking Ahead
Punjab Kings will now face Delhi Capitals on May 24 and Mumbai Indians on May 26 in their final two league matches.
