Shreyas Iyer wants to go one down in IPL 2025

By
Jay Rock
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5

Iyer helped KKR to the IPL 2024 championship while mostly batting at No. 4.

The new captain of the Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer, has stated that he plans to bat at number three in the 2025 Indian Premier League. Iyer, who captained the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 championship, had mostly batted at No. 4, but he recently proven to be India’s difference at No. 4 during their undefeated march to the Champions Trophy triumph in Dubai. In order to accommodate KKR’s demands last season, he had also occasionally dropped to No. 5 or No. 6.

“We already know that IPL is an integral part of Indian cricket. And If I would want to mark myself at some position in T20, it would be No. 3,” Iyer said at a press conference. “And that’s what I’m focusing at. I wouldn’t say that we are planning and thinking about what number I will be batting.

“This time I’m quite clear about that position. And I’m going to be focusing on that number. As long as the coach approves of me.”

After some success with the Delhi Capitals, where they made the playoffs from 2019 to 2021, including the 2020 final, Iyer will be reunited with coach Ponting. Iyer was purchased by PBKS for INR 26.75 crore (about USD 3.18 million), making him the second most expensive player at an IPL auction.

“If you look back at the auction, I think it was pretty clear to everyone who I wanted as my captain,” Ponting said. “And we got what we wanted. I was desperate to work with Shreyas again. We had a great working relationship at Delhi over a long period of time. He’s one of the best players that I’ve worked with. He’s a great human being. He’s an IPL-winning captain. You couldn’t ask for much more.
“We’ve got the best leader that we could possibly hope for. And we’ve had a lot of great times and success together. I think we understand each other really well. As you know, the captain-coach relationship in any team is vital.”

PBKS finished second from bottom in the 2024 Indian Premier League after winning just one of their seven home games at Mullanpur and Dharamsala. Ponting wants to change that and figure out how to win at home this year.

“What I understand is that if you are not winning at home, you are not winning the IPL,” Ponting said. “It’s one of the main reasons that I’m sitting here now. I wanted a really strong coaching challenge. And we’ve got that. But there’s no pressure on us. What have we got to lose?
“We’re going to go out and play a really dynamic and entertaining brand of cricket. And I know we’ve got the players that can do that.”

 

 

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