NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer could have missed out on his maiden IPL century, however his selfless method within the season opener in opposition to Gujarat Titans has gained hearts.
While Iyer’s unbeaten 97 off simply 42 balls powered PBKS to a commanding 243/5, it was his resolution to prioritise the staff’s success over private milestones that stole the highlight.
As the ultimate over started, Iyer was simply three runs shy of a century, however his batting associate Shashank Singh unleashed a surprising 23-run assault, making certain PBKS posted an imposing complete.
Instead of demanding the strike, Iyer inspired Shashank to proceed attacking. “Shreyas told me, ‘Shashank, don’t worry about my hundred, just keep hitting,'” the younger batter revealed post-match.
The selfless gesture drew widespread reward, together with from Punjab Kings’ co-owner, Preity Zinta.
Taking to social media, Zinta hailed Iyer’s management and team-first mentality, writing, “Some 97s are better than a hundred. Take a bow @ShreyasIyer15 for showing class, leadership & aggression.” She additionally lauded different key contributors to PBKS’ victory, together with Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Priyansh Arya.
Despite lacking out on a century, Iyer’s knock earned him the Player of the Match award and the admiration of cricketing legends and followers alike. With PBKS off to a profitable begin, the staff will look to construct on this momentum because the IPL 2025 season progresses.
Meanwhile, Preity Zinta, who has been related to Punjab’s IPL franchise since 2008, is gearing up for her Bollywood comeback with Lahore 1947 after a seven-year hiatus.
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