Iyer delivers as batter, leader in testing season

Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer share a strong bond as chief coach and skipper. The former Australia stalwart had always wanted to work with the Indian batter after their time together at Delhi Capitals.

- Sharad Deep

Ponting, moving to Punjab Kings, wanted the best leader available to rebuild the team around strong Indian talent and exciting young players.

Ponting's faith in Iyer was vindicated as the duo guided PBKS to a runner-up finish in IPL 2025. On Saturday against Lucknow Super Giants, Iyer showed his batting might at a crucial juncture, his first IPL century steering Punjab Kings to a vital win in their last league match and keeping hopes alive for a playoffs berth. (They were, however, eliminated after Rajasthan Royals beat MI on Sunday to go to 16 points and take the final playoffs spot.)

Iyer’s 101* would have gone down as the defining knock of Punjab Kings’ campaign. Chasing 197 at the Ekana Stadium, PBKS recovered from an early wobble with a 140-run third-wicket stand between Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh. The captain's 51-ball knock had 11 fours and five sixes, the last of them sealing victory.

The seven-wicket win snapped a six-match losing run that left PBKS on the verge of elimination. Iyer’s batting was less about aesthetics and more about temperament and timing. He accelerated only after the run rate was tamed, then shifting to a calculated assault.