A runner-up finish, but a redemption nonetheless: The impact of Shreyas Iyer on PBKS in IPL 2025

History remembers the winners, the one with the trophies. Explains why RCB ran relentlessly after the IPL trophy for 18 long years, and it meant so much to them when they finally lifted their maiden title on Tuesday. However, the IPL 2025 final featured another team that had been chasing the trophy for as many years. The wait elongated for Punjab Kings as Royal Challengers Bengaluru took the title-clash by 6 runs. However, history also remembers the doers. In 18 seasons, Punjab Kings had played a sole final, that too a decade back. In IPL 2025, PBKS, led by Shreyas Iyer and guided by Ricky Ponting, came the closest to winning the title for the first time. From not making it into the playoffs for a decade to launching into the Final, Punjab's redemption had a lot to do with their new leader, Shreyas Iyer.

Shreyas Iyer redefined the legacy of Punjab Kings in his first year as the team's captain

Coming with the biggest purse in the IPL 2025 mega auction, PBKS splurged a record amount of 26.75 crore on Shreyas Iyer. The move would not be regretted in the slightest by the management despite the runners-up finish in the season. Iyer, a title-winning captain with Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024, brought a new fire in the Punjab lineup. The PBKS lineup didn't feature a bowling attack as lethal as Mumbai Indians, filled with seasoned national and international gems. The batting order shaped with uncapped Indian players like Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Nehal Wadhera taking the charge. 

Their overseas prospects contained Marco Jansen, who performed seamlessly until he had to leave the camp ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs to focus on his national duty. Josh Inglis, another impressive addition to the PBKS lineup, played only 11 out of the 17 matches for the team. Overseas stars, domestic top-performers, all the aspects came along seamlessly for PBKS under the leadership of Shreyas, who himself is finding the way to come up as an all-format prospect for India.

The approach that Punjab Kings would follow in the season ahead was set on display in the campaign opener against Gujarat Titans. The captain led the charge with an unbeaten 97-run knock. The century was highly possible until Iyer told Shashank Singh on the other end to go for the big shots instead of focusing on rotating the strike in the death. Punjab Kings, consequently, opened IPL 2025 with a victory over the home team in Ahmedabad.

Following that, PBKS kept a consistent hold on the top half of the IPL 2025 points table. Shreyas Iyer kept his performance up with the bat as the team finally saw the possibility of making it into the final turn into reality. With 8 wins in 12 league stage matches and a washout, PBKS entered the playoffs for the first time in a decade. To ensure an ideal finish, Shreyas Iyer and Co. beat Mumbai Indians in their last league stage match, finishing at the top of the table and claiming a seat in Qualifier 1 against RCB.

The team which defended a meagre 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the group stage was stunned right at the start of the playoffs. RCB rendered PBKS all out at a measly 101 in Mullanpur. A heavy defeat followed as RCB charged into the IPL 2025 final, pushing down PBKS into the Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians. Following a defeat big enough to crush the spirits of the best of the champions, Iyer quipped a confident, "We have lost the battle, not the war." The captain followed his words with results as PBKS crushed MI in Qualifier 2.

A cracker of a contest unfolded in Ahmedabad as Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings fought for survival. However, it was the captain's knock that marked the difference. The start was not ideal as PBKS lost opener Priyansh Arya early in the chase. However, Iyer stayed till the last, remaining unbeaten at 87 off 41, as Punjab won the 204-run chase by 5 wickets, beating the five-time champions. Subsequently, PBKS marked their entry into the IPL 2025 final, first for the team since 2014.

The final rendered Punjab Kings hapless, a rare sight in the otherwise dominant side for Shreyas Iyer and Co. However, losing the sight in a chase as important as the final leaves lasting blots. Iyer fell at just 1 against Romario Shepherd, and the lineup came undone. Shashank Singh fought but fell short by 6 runs in the last over as RCB claimed their much-awaited right on the IPL trophy. Coming so close but losing minutely is a hard blow to take. However, Shreyas Iyer, who has already left a mark for PBKS, bringing the team to uncharted heights, remains hopeful to complete what remained incomplete this season.

"I am very proud of each and every individual who has participated in the team. And a lot of youngsters who have played their first season and the fearless nature that they showed, it was simply phenomenal. I keep on saying the same thing again and again but hats off to every individual who has been here, who has contributed as support staff, management. I think without them, we wouldn't have reached so far. So kudos to them," Iyer said to round off the season for PBKS.

“And also, you know, job is still half done and we have to receive the trophy next year," Iyer iterated optimistically.