The key contributors to his team’s win against Gujarat Titans in the first match of IPL 2025 is being sung by social media for Punjab Kings’ newly appointed captain, Shreyas Iyer, who played a selfless innings and is being praised. It was a move by Iyer to put team interest before personal glory, and it is exactly what cricket fans and pundits alike should praise him for because it helped Punjab pull off a close win by 11 runs.
Iyer scored a 97 not out from 54 balls; he began to add on the later overs and was unbeaten in the end when he brought the innings to a resounding close. Iyer had been within closeness of playing his maiden IPL century and decided to let go of the cushion and ward off the batsman at the other end in a bid to attack and encourage his batting mate, Shashank Singh, to go for the big shots in the final overs, rather than going for his hundred. With this decision, Punjab had the freedom to top up their total and that was the difference of additional runs that turned out to be the victor.
On social media, fans pointed out how Iyer’s attitude was refreshing, as it is nowadays; people often tend to emphasize personal accomplishments more than team efforts. His selfless decision in the final overs of the innings was a perfect display of leadership, to say the least, many believe, and it laid down the foundation of the campaign for Punjab Kings this season.
Gujarat Titans, starring Shubman Gill, put up a spirited fight in response, and Jos Buttler played an explosive counterattack to keep the chase alive. But Punjab’s bowlers, led by head coach Ricky Ponting’s tactical nous, stayed calm in the death overs, with Gujarat finishing for 232/6.
Fine margins and moments such as Shreyas Iyer’s selfless decision saw him amass not just runs but the respect of fans and his teammates, too, in a game where more than 400 were scored from 40 overs.
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