How has Iyer's positivity transformed PBKS dominance in IPL 2025?

New Delhi, May 16 (NationPress) Suresh Raina, the former India cricketer and four-time IPL champion, remarked that Shreyas Iyer's uplifting leadership as a captain and batsman has introduced a fresh dynamic, leading to unprecedented dominance by Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Iyer, who guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL 2024 title, was signed by PBKS during last year's mega auction for an astounding Rs 26.75 crore. To date, this decision to invest heavily in Iyer has proven beneficial, as the right-handed batsman has scored 405 runs in 11 matches with an impressive average of 50.63, including four half-centuries.

As a captain with Ricky Ponting as the head coach, Iyer has shown sharp and proactive leadership, contributing to PBKS accumulating 15 points and securing third place in the points table. The team now requires two victories from their remaining three matches to secure a place in the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

“Their key players, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, have laid a strong foundation for Punjab. Shreyas Iyer’s excellent batting and captaincy have been crucial,” Raina shared with IANS on the Star Sports Press Room show, as the playoffs approach with IPL 2025 set to resume.

“Ricky Ponting is fostering a great atmosphere, and if you observe their domestic talents such as Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Priyansh, Prabhsimran, and the impressive performances of Shashank Singh, they are playing a different style of cricket. When seven players are in sync and fighting for a place in the national team, it creates a significant impact,” he added.

“Shreyas Iyer’s recent three years have showcased his batting quality, evident in his performance at the ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy. His unique positivity is remarkable, as I have never witnessed such dominance from the Punjab team in the IPL. When Viru Bhai (Virender Sehwag) was captain, the team had a different approach in the 2014 qualifiers,” Raina noted.

“Iyer brings quality to the locker room, instilling positivity and a strong desire to win. I believe Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer have significantly enhanced the team, leading to a new style of play dubbed Punjab Express,” Raina stated.

Iyer's journey has been captivating—after leading KKR to the IPL title last year, he now aims for victory with PBKS. Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed hope that Iyer's leadership will guide PBKS to the coveted trophy in the IPL 2025 final on June 3.

“This (PBKS's impressive performance) underscores the essence of captaincy. The coach plays a role, especially during strategic time-outs, but ultimately, it’s the captain who must make split-second decisions. Shreyas Iyer deserves credit for his leadership last year, particularly in challenging situations.”

“He navigated them out of tough moments to clinch the title, and he’s replicating that success here. They’ve faced some misfortune, as they started strong in a game at Dharamshala that was later canceled. They were 124-1 in 10 overs, an exceptional start.”

“Moreover, at Eden Gardens, they scored around 206 or 207, typically a winning score, but the match was abandoned due to rain. They've encountered some luck not going their way, but they're optimistic that things will change,” Raina concluded.

Catch Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders as they resume their playoff race at 7:30 PM on Saturday, with IPL 2025 returning live and exclusively on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.