Sunil Gavaskar has come to the defense of Shreyas Iyer, arguing that the Indian batter and captain never received the credit he deserved for leading the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their IPL title last season.
Iyer captained KKR to their third Indian Premier League (IPL) championship, contributing 351 runs at an average of 39 across 14 innings, including two half-centuries. But despite his on-field leadership, much of the praise went to then-mentor Gautam Gambhir, who was seen as the mastermind behind the win.
“He didn’t get the credit for the IPL victory last season. All the plaudits were given to someone else. It’s the captain, who plays a major role in what’s happening in the middle and not someone sitting in the dugout,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
PBKS gamble on Iyer paying off in 2025
Ahead of the 2025 IPL mega auction, KKR made the surprise decision to release Iyer. That move proved to be a huge opportunity for the Punjab Kings (PBKS), who signed him for a staggering ₹26.75 crore—one of the biggest deals in IPL history.
So far, Iyer has lived up to the investment. With 405 runs in 11 matches at an average of 50.63, including four fifties, Iyer has been both consistent with the bat and shrewd as captain. PBKS currently sits in third place on the points table with 15 points and has secured a playoff spot for the first time since 2014.
The last time PBKS reached the playoffs, they also made the final—losing to KKR. Now, with Iyer at the helm and Ricky Ponting as head coach, the franchise has revived its competitive edge after more than a decade of underachievement.
Iyer-Ponting reunion sparks PBKS resurgence
Iyer’s partnership with Ponting has deep roots. The pair previously worked together at the Delhi Capitals, where they reached the IPL playoffs in 2019 and finished runners-up in 2020. Their reunion at PBKS has sparked a similar turnaround in fortunes.
Yet, this time, Iyer is being recognized as the primary force behind the team’s success, not just the strategist in the dugout.
“See, this year he’s getting fair credit. No one is giving all the credit to Ricky Ponting,” Gavaskar added.
As PBKS heads into the knockout stages, Shreyas Iyer’s leadership is being viewed in a new light—not just as a skilled batter, but as a captain capable of transforming a team’s destiny. And this time, he’s finally getting the recognition to match.
