NEW DELHI: On the occasion of Mother’s Day, Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer shared heartfelt thoughts about the woman who has been his biggest source of strength and inspiration. In a video posted by PBKS on X on Sunday, Iyer said, “The woman who inspired me is my mom. She’s been the pillar of my life. She has supported me through thick and thin, and she is like a talisman for me, especially during my matrimonial period.”Iyer began his IPL journey when he was picked by Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the 2015 auction for Rs 2.6 crore.He made an immediate impact, scoring 439 runs that season and earning the IPL Emerging Player of the Year award. Over the next six seasons, Iyer became a vital part of the team, consistently scoring over 400 runs in four editions and eventually taking over the captaincy.In 2018, he replaced Gautam Gambhir as DC captain midway through the season. Although the team finished at the bottom of the table that year, Iyer showcased his leadership potential by steering the franchise to the playoffs in 2019 — their first such appearance since 2012.Under his captaincy, Delhi Capitals reached their maiden IPL final in 2020, where they were beaten by Mumbai Indians. Iyer’s crowning achievement as a leader came last season when he led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title.
Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction, he was released by KKR and bought by Punjab Kings for a staggering Rs 26.75 crore. The Mumbai-born batter has led PBKS with determination this season. Under his captaincy, the team has earned 16 points from 12 games, with seven wins and three defeats.
Individually, Iyer has been in stellar form, amassing 405 runs from 12 matches at an average of 50.63 and a striking strike rate of 180.81. He has notched up four half-centuries, including a highest score of an unbeaten 97 against Gujarat Titans (GT).
