Star Indian batter Shreyas Iyer was lately introduced because the captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season throughout an episode of the favored actuality present Bigg Boss. The announcement, a primary of its variety in IPL’s historical past, obtained blended reactions, together with one from South African cricket legend AB de Villiers.
Iyer, who was acquired by Punjab Kings for a record-breaking INR 26.75 crore on the IPL public sale, grew to become the second-most costly participant in IPL historical past. The official announcement of his captaincy was made on Bigg Boss, hosted by Bollywood actor Salman Khan. Reacting to the announcement, AB de Villiers shared his ideas on his YouTube channel.
“Shreyas Iyer is appointed because the captain of the Punjab Kings in a really odd means, on a TV present. I discovered that fairly humorous. Possibly, it’s the new means of doing issues. I’m typically used to a press convention and a proper announcement however this was truly possibly fairly refreshing in a means.”
Iyer has had an distinctive 2024 in home and franchise cricket. The fashionable right-hander led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title earlier in 2024 and likewise captained Mumbai to victories within the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and was a part of the profitable Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy squad.
Additionally Learn: ‘I am versatile and able to bat anyplace within the batting order’- Shreyas Iyer on Champions Trophy squad
May simply see Punjab Kings have an excellent season: AB de Villiers
The 30-year-old’s management and talent to ship beneath strain make him a prized asset for Punjab Kings, who’ve struggled to make it to the playoffs since 2014. Curiously this will likely be Iyer’s third time main an IPL staff. In the meantime, the previous South African batter heaped large reward for Iyer’s management, notably on his stint with KKR, who gained the title beneath Iyer in 2024.
“He’s had some success with KKR, profitable the IPL, and main them to victory. That was completely unbelievable and an enormous loss for KKR to be sincere. I really feel Shreyas dealt with the IPL so nicely beneath immense strain, and so many high quality groups towards you, all of the gamers. Shreyas discovered a solution to preserve issues calm and composed in that KKR unit,” he added.
On the Punjab-based franchise, Iyer will reunite with head coach Ricky Ponting, with whom he beforehand shared a profitable stint at DC, guiding them to the 2020 IPL last. De Villiers identified the duo’s potential to vary PBKS’ fortunes.
“However he’s with Punjab Kings this yr and it’s nice to see him beneath the teaching of Ricky Ponting. Ponting is likely one of the finest gamers that ever performed this sport, he’s obtained an extremely sensible cricket mind on his shoulders and it’s nice to see the 2 of them collectively. I feel they’ve obtained an excellent aspect guys and at last, we’d simply see Punjab Kings have an excellent season.
“It’s been some time, proper? It’s been some time since we’ve seen them within the knockout phases and it will likely be good for the match. So, sure, I feel Shreyas Iyer will feed off Ricky Ponting. Shreyas already comes with a number of expertise as a result of he gained that IPL final yr. I feel he’s a pure chief and he’s obtained an excellent aspect to work with,” de Villiers concluded.
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