November 19, 2023, and Motera was the theatre of heartbreak. India had moved like a freight train at the World Cup until they fell at the final hurdle. After the defeat against Australia, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Indian dressing room to console the players, Shreyas Iyer looked distraught, still struggling to come to terms with the defeat. He had scored a match-winning hundred (105 off 70 balls) against New Zealand in the semi-final but fell cheaply (4) in the final. He was holding himself responsible for the loss.
March 25, 2025, and Shreyas played his first game for Punjab Kings at the same venue. The franchise had forked out a staggering Rs 26.75 crore to buy him at the auction. Right from the outset, the middle-order batsman was PBKS’ preferred choice as captain. He had to make a statement and did that through his 97 not out off 42 balls against Gujarat Titans.
As Mohammed Siraj bowled the final over during the PBKS innings, Shashank Singh was caught in a dilemma – whether to keep strike or take a single and give it to his captain. Shreyas was standing on the cusp of his maiden IPL century. As Shashank would later reveal, the message from the skipper was clear: “Hit the ball, don’t worry about my hundred.” Twenty-three runs were scored off that over, but Shreyas was left stranded on 97 at the other end. Mattered little. It set the tone for PBKS’ campaign this term.
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Shreyas is the only player to lead three different franchises to the IPL finals. He did it with Delhi Capitals in 2020. Then, in 2024, he led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL glory. Now, he has guided PBKS to their first IPL final in 11 years. And yet, somehow, Shreyas hasn’t forged a bond with his franchises.
MS Dhoni’s relationship with Chennai Super Kings is familial. Rohit Sharma enjoys an iconic status at Mumbai Indians. Gautam Gambhir is loved and respected at KKR. Rajasthan Royals have retired Shane Warne’s shirt number 23 in honour of their title-winning captain. Shreyas, on the other hand, has been released by DC and KKR despite making a mark as a leader at the respective franchises. Why is he unloved? A title win with PBKS might see him finally getting out of the desolation row.
Dhoni and Rohit have won back-to-back IPL titles. But Shreyas would be the first one to do it for two different teams if PBKS beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final. He didn’t celebrate after taking his team over the line against MI in the Eliminator. Asked about that at the pre-match press conference, his response was terse but meaningful. “I felt like my job was half done. It’s not even finished.”
History beckons, and Shreyas looks determined to set a date with it.
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