Shreyas Iyer banks on playoff pedigree to rise above Mullanpur woes

Punjab Kings` skipper Shreyas Iyer has not only impressed cricket fans with his sharp captaincy but has also made significant contributions with the bat. He now faces another stern test as his side locks horns with the in-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.

In the ongoing season, Iyer has already amassed 514 runs, with a best score of an unbeaten 97. Beyond his batting exploits, the 30-year-old has also achieved a rare milestone, becoming the first-ever captain to lead three different franchises to the IPL playoffs. Under his leadership, the Kolkata Knight Riders also clinched the title, with mentor Gautam Gambhir playing a key role in the campaign.

In IPL playoff history, Iyer has accumulated 214 runs, boasting a strike rate of 127.38. He has registered two half-centuries, one each for KKR and Delhi Capitals, highlighting his value in pressure situations.

However, in the high-stakes clash for Punjab, Iyer faces an uphill battle, both against RCB and his own form at the venue. His performances at the Qualifier 1 venue in Mullanpur have been underwhelming so far. In four matches at the ground, he has posted scores of 10, 9, 0, and 6.

When it comes to head-to-head stats against Bengaluru, Iyer has scored 406 runs in 16 innings, which includes four half-centuries. His career-best against RCB stands at 67 runs.

In his last 10 innings against RCB, the Mumbai-born batter has tallied 270 runs at an average of 30.00, with three fifties. Despite modest numbers, Iyer remains a key player in Punjab`s pursuit of their maiden IPL title.

IPL 2025 Qualifier 1, PBKS vs RCB: Full Squads

Punjab Kings Squad: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yuzvendra Chahal, Suryansh Shedge, Musheer Khan, Xavier Bartlett, Praveen Dubey, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Pyla Avinash

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Tim Seifert, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Swapnil Singh, Blessing Muzarabani, Tim David, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh.

(With ANI Inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day