NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer may have missed out on his maiden IPL century, but his selfless approach in the season opener against Gujarat Titans has won hearts.
While Iyer’s unbeaten 97 off just 42 balls powered PBKS to a commanding 243/5, it was his decision to prioritise the team’s success over personal milestones that stole the spotlight.
As the final over began, Iyer was just three runs shy of a century, but his batting partner Shashank Singh unleashed a stunning 23-run assault, ensuring PBKS posted an imposing total.
Instead of demanding the strike, Iyer encouraged Shashank to continue attacking. “Shreyas told me, ‘Shashank, don’t worry about my hundred, just keep hitting,'” the young batter revealed post-match.
The selfless gesture drew widespread praise, including from Punjab Kings’ co-owner, Preity Zinta.
Taking to social media, Zinta hailed Iyer’s leadership and team-first mentality, writing, “Some 97s are better than a hundred. Take a bow @ShreyasIyer15 for showing class, leadership & aggression.” She also lauded other key contributors to PBKS’ victory, including Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Priyansh Arya.
Despite missing out on a century, Iyer’s knock earned him the Player of the Match award and the admiration of cricketing legends and fans alike. With PBKS off to a winning start, the team will look to build on this momentum as the IPL 2025 season progresses.
Meanwhile, Preity Zinta, who has been associated with Punjab’s IPL franchise since 2008, is gearing up for her Bollywood comeback with Lahore 1947 after a seven-year hiatus.
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