PBKS vs KKR IPL 2025: Punjab Kings' captain Shreyas Iyer's brilliant comeback post the Champions Trophy has received praises from the team's coach Sunil Joshi, who has credited his success to his constant 'hunger for challenges.' Iyer, who was let go by defending champions KKR despite helping them win the title last year then started IPL 2025 on a high by scoring 97 and 52 runs and thus showed his sublime form.
“If you look back at Shreyas’ contribution in the last 8-10 months from the Champions Trophy, playing not only against fast bowling, playing against spin has become more consistent," Joshi told reporters during the pre-match press conference.
“He has shown the hunger and he is ready to accept every challenge he comes across. For any player of that caliber, you accept every challenge, every ball. I am sure that he has done some great work behind the scenes. It’s a good momentum to carry forward as a leader as well," he added.
During the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Iyer played a huge role as a middle-order batter, as he batted at a staggering average of 48.60, in which he smashed four 40-plus scores in five matches and that also includes two half-centuries.
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After February 2022, Iyer had batted at an average of 53.71 in the 50-over format and he is also one of the six batters to have scored more than 2500 runs after the 2019 ODI World Cup.
Technical changes have helped him bounce back. By batting with a more open stance, he now has access to the on-side, which helps him to smash the short ball brilliantly.
Iyer does try to go deep at the crease and thus gives himself extra time to plan his shots accordingly.
Iyer would be returning to familiar pitch conditions at the Eden Gardens since he led KKR to their third IPL title after 10 years in 2024.
Joshi realized the brilliant captaincy skills Iyer has, even when was getting involved in a conversation with the net bowlers.
“I think Shreyas is a young leader and if you look at him, he goes to every player, not only the squad player, he goes to even the net bowler, talk to them. That shows the confidence of every member of the team. And this is a great hallmark for a leader to come in the future. As a genuine leader, when you go and speak to the players, especially the net bowlers, that means he is concerned about them. They are also part of our team. That shows a caring attitude," he concluded.