IPL 2025: Former Team India batter Ambati Rayudu praised Shreyas Iyer after the Punjab Kings’ surprising win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, Rayudu mentioned that everything fell into place for the team while defending a total of 111 runs in the 31st match of the IPL 2025 season.
Punjab Kings pull off a historic win after posting just 111 runs.
Punjab Kings won by 16 runs at Mullanpur on Wednesday, April 15, despite being all out for just 111 runs in 15.3 overs. They managed to restrict KKR to only 95 runs in 15.1 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal played a key role, taking 4 wickets for 28 runs in his four overs.
Punjab Kings defended the lowest total ever in IPL history, breaking Chennai Super Kings’ previous record of 116 runs from 2009. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Ambati Rayudu praised Shreyas Iyer’s leadership but also mentioned that such victories need more than just good captaincy.
“Shreyas definitely has captained well. These guys were there, they believed – once they got one wicket, two wickets, three wickets, and then there’s that energy. On a night like that, it is more than captaincy. Everything has to be loaded for you,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show.
Yuzvendra Chahal was named Player of the Match. PBKS claimed their fourth win in six matches, moving up to fourth place on the IPL 2025 points table. Their next match is against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, April 18.
Ian Bishop recalls Iyer’s impact at Delhi Capitals.
Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop praised Shreyas Iyer for his positive influence on the teams he has captained. He recalled how Iyer took over as captain from Gautam Gambhir midway through the 2018 season at Delhi Capitals and helped improve the team’s performance.
“I have seen captains sit back and probably say, ‘let’s take this as deep as we can’,” Bishop said. “I think Shreyas is a good captain. Wherever Shreyas has gone, and I keep saying it, since he took over from Gautam Gambhir halfway through at Delhi Capitals [then Daredevils] in 2018, he’s made teams better.”
Ambati Rayudu said that Shreyas Iyer’s belief in defending the low total-something even top captains might have doubted was crucial. He pointed out that Iyer’s calmness and leadership played a big role in the Punjab Kings’ win.
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“I have known the best of captains who wouldn’t have taken this score [111] seriously. Trust me,” Rayudu said. “But this guy did. [Coach Ricky] Ponting does. Ponting would never give up. That’s a great combination that they have going. But only if they don’t change the players as often as they do. And keep it constant. I think they’ll get a lot of success in the IPL.
“He [Shreyas] has that composure as a person and as a captain, and that is why I feel… sir [Bishop] here has said he is a good captain, and that’s because he has that composure.”
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