Punjab Kings have officially named Shreyas Iyer as their captain for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. In a unique and exciting twist, the announcement was made by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan during the reality TV show Bigg Boss on Sunday. The special moment was further heightened as Iyer, along with teammates Shashank Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, appeared on the show with Salman to engage with fans and make the announcement even more thrilling.
The 30-year-old cricketer expressed his gratitude to the Punjab Kings management for placing their trust in him. He is eager to repay that faith by leading the team to success. “I am honoured that the team has reposed its faith in me. I am looking forward to working again with Coach Ponting. The team looks strong, with a great mix of potential and proven performers. I hope to repay the faith shown by the management to deliver our maiden title,” Iyer said in his address.
Punjab Kings’ head coach, Ricky Ponting, also shared his confidence in Iyer’s leadership abilities. “Shreyas has a great mind for the game. His proven capabilities as captain will enable the team to deliver. I have enjoyed my time with Iyer in the past in IPL, and I look forward to working with him again. With his leadership and the talent in the squad, I am excited about the seasons ahead,” Ponting stated.
Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon also weighed in on the decision. “We had identified Shreyas as our captain and were delighted with the auction result. He has already proven himself to master the format, and his vision for the team aligns perfectly with our goals. With him and Ponting joining hands again, we are confident our team has a solid leadership group to guide us to our first title,” Menon said.
Iyer had an exceptional 2024 season, cementing his reputation as a leader. He captained Kolkata Knight Riders to a successful IPL campaign and played a key role in Mumbai’s triumph in both the Ranji and Irani trophies. He also led Mumbai to victory in their second Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
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Punjab Kings appointed Iyer as captain following his acquisition at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. The franchise secured his services for a staggering Rs 26.75 crore, making him one of the highest purchases of the auction, just behind Rishabh Pant, who was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 crore.
Punjab Kings entered the auction with a clean slate, having retained only two players – Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh – and a maximum purse of Rs 110.5 crore. With new head coach Ricky Ponting at the helm, the team focused on building a strong squad from scratch. In a key move, Punjab exercised their Right-to-Match (RTM) card to secure Arshdeep Singh after Sunrisers Hyderabad made a final bid of Rs 18 crore.
Ponting reflected on the success of the auction, saying, “The auction has gone great. It probably couldn’t have gone much better, to be honest. It’s been a lot of work and a lot of team effort. The analysts have done a terrific job, providing me with much information on the local players. Obviously, I know a lot about the overseas guys.”
The Punjab Kings squad for the 2025 IPL season includes:
With a well-balanced squad and a dynamic leadership team, Punjab Kings are set to make a strong push for their maiden IPL title in the 2025 season.
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