Shreyas Iyer made IPL history on Sunday by becoming the first-ever captain to lead three different franchises to the playoffs. His leadership helped Punjab Kings (PBKS) break an 11-year playoff drought in IPL 2025.
PBKS’s playoff qualification was confirmed after their thrilling win over Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur and Delhi Capitals’ loss to Gujarat Titans, making Iyer’s milestone official.
A Journey of Leadership: From DC to KKR to PBKS
Iyer’s record-breaking captaincy journey began in 2019 with Delhi Capitals, guiding them to the playoffs after a 7-year gap and later to the IPL 2020 final. He repeated the magic with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, ending their 10-year title drought.
In 2025, PBKS picked Iyer in the auction for ₹26.75 crore and handed him the captaincy. That decision has paid off handsomely, with Punjab reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
The Ponting-Iyer Duo Delivers Again
A major factor behind Punjab’s revival has been the reunion of Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting. The duo previously worked together at Delhi Capitals and once again produced winning results.
Punjab’s latest victory came against Rajasthan Royals, where Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh powered them to 219. Bowler Harpreet Brar then took 3/22 to restrict RR and secure a critical win.
With 17 points, PBKS are now tied with RCB but sit third on net run rate. A top-two finish is still within reach as the playoffs approach.
A Legacy in the Making
Shreyas Iyer now joins the elite group of players to captain three different IPL teams, alongside names like Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Steven Smith, and Ajinkya Rahane. But he’s the only one to lead all three to the playoffs, setting a new captaincy benchmark in IPL history.
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