Shreyas Iyer had the perfect night out as he played a starring role for his new team, Punjab Kings, in their victory over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Punjab beat Gujarat by 11 runs in the GT vs PBKS match of IPL 2025.
Iyer, the newly appointed captain, showed why exactly PBKS spent Rs 26.75 crore on him in the auction – he was selfless with the bat, allowing Shashank Singh to go berzerk even when he had the chance to score a hundred, played some stunning shots and led brilliantly on the field to hand GT defeat in a high-scoring game.
Punjab Kings hold their nerves in the end to clinch a splendid win against Gujarat Titans
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 25, 2025
Scorecardhttps://t.co/PYWUriwSzY#TATAIPL | #GTvPBKS | @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/0wy29ODStQ
Sudharsan sizzles and fizzles
Chasing 244, Shubman Gill set the tone with a 14-ball 33. With an inexperienced middle-order, the onus was on the top-four to get the Titans close to the target.
However, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler never stayed in touch with an already steep asking rate and there was too much for them to do in the backend of the innings.
GT’s Impact Sub, Sherfane Rutherford, came out all guns blazing to try and help Buttler but the PBKS Impact Sub made a better impact with a spell of 2 overs for just 10 runs after walking in cold from the dugout.
Jos Buttler scored a fifty on debut for the Titans in the 18th over of the chase but there was still a lot of work to do with 45 needed off 2 overs, more so after Marco Jansen dismissed the England star.
Punjab’s King: Shreyas Iyer
The PBKS innings was headlined by new captain Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 97 off 42 balls. In red-hot form for India in one-day internationals, Iyer carried that touch over to the IPL and smashed Kagiso Rabada for a boundary off his first ball and then flicked him for a six to show he meant business.
Iyer was brilliant on both sides of the wicket – he hit 5 fours and 9 sixes in an innings that should also draw attention from the India selectors as they look to add more firepower to an already scary T20I team.
So fluent was Iyer that the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Rabada and Rashid Khan failed to stop Punjab from nearly racing away to 250.
𝙄.𝘾.𝙔.𝙈.𝙄
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 25, 2025
Enjoy glimpses of a Shreyas Iyer Special in Ahmedabad as he remained unbeaten on 97*(42)
Updates
Of course, there were other significant contributions – like Priyansh Arya, who smashed 47 off 23 balls in his first IPL match. He made his name in the Delhi Premier League and attracted some serious bids in the mega auction before PBKS snapped him up.
Later in the innings, Shashank Singh made a huge impact to finish with 44 not out off 16 balls. His fireworks meant Iyer did not get enough strike to get to his maiden IPL hundred but Shashank revealed his captain asked him to keep going for the big shots instead of worrying about his hundred.
Punjab Kings would be delighted with their batting effort because they got there even as Glenn Maxwell returned with a golden duck and Marcus Stoinis scored only 20. Imagine what the Kings can do if these two fire alongside Iyer and Shashank.
Punjab Kings will next take on Lucknow Super Giants while Gujarat Titans face five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians.
