Can PBKS Captain Shreyas Iyer Lead His Team to Victory Next Year?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Shreyas Iyer led Punjab Kings to the finals after a decade.
- The team displayed remarkable fearlessness throughout the season.
- Krunal Pandya's performance was pivotal in the final match.
- Young players significantly contributed to the team's success.
- Iyer believes they can win the trophy next year.
Ahmedabad, June 4 (NationPress) Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer expressed his disappointment following a narrow six-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, yet he remains hopeful that his team has the potential to return victorious next year and claim the trophy.
The 2025 season marked a significant achievement for Punjab Kings as they reached the finals for the first time in over a decade, marking their second overall final and only their third appearance in the IPL Playoffs. Iyer, who previously led Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in the 2024 finals, was participating in his second consecutive IPL final.
Recognized as the first captain to guide three franchises to the finals (with Delhi Daredevils being the third), Iyer praised his team's bold performance throughout the season and highlighted the pivotal contributions of Krunal Pandya.
“I’m honestly feeling dejected, but I want to commend our boys for rising to the challenge. It wasn’t our night, but we owe a lot to the support staff, the owners, and everyone involved. Looking back at the last match, I believed that 200 runs was a fair target. Their bowling was outstanding, especially from Krunal, whose experience was a game changer. I take pride in every player who contributed to this team.
“We have many youngsters playing their first season, and they displayed remarkable fearlessness. We wouldn’t have reached this point without them. Hats off to them. We must return and secure the trophy next year. The way we approached each match with the belief of ‘We can win this game’ was commendable. I’m hopeful we can come back next season and play some exciting cricket,” Iyer shared during the post-match interview.
Iyer sparked excitement among PBKS supporters with his remarkable leadership throughout the season. His impressive innings of 87 led his team to defeat five-time champions Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make a significant impact in the final match, scoring just 1 run off 2 balls. In their chase for 191 runs, PBKS fell short, finishing at 184/7, with Shashank Singh scoring 61 not out and Josh Inglis contributing 39 runs.