Punjab Kings Shreyas Iyer etched his name in Indian Premier League (IPL) folklore by becoming the first captain to guide three different franchises into the tournament's Playoffs. (Highlights | )
On May 18, Iyer바카라™s leadership propelled Punjab Kings (PBKS) to a 10-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 59 of IPL 2025 바카라” a win that not only sealed Punjab바카라™s playoff spot but also reinforced Iyer바카라™s stature as one of the finest tacticians in the T20 league.
With this win, PBKS climbed to third in the table with 17 points from 12 games and a net run rate of +0.389. For a franchise that has often flattered to deceive, Iyer바카라™s Rs 26.75 crore acquisition 바카라” the second highest in IPL history 바카라” now seems like a masterstroke.
The former DC and KKR skipper, who led Delhi to the final in 2020 and Kolkata to the title in 2024, has now added Punjab to his list of playoff conquests, completing a rare captaincy hat-trick.
On the field, it was a complete team effort. Batting first, Punjab Kings posted a daunting 219/5, riding on Nehal Wadhera바카라™s electric 70 off 37 balls and Shashank Singh바카라™s explosive 59 from 30. The duo dismantled the Royals attack, with only Tushar Deshpande (2/37) managing some control.
Rajasthan Royals responded with spirit. Yashasvi Jaiswal blazed away to a 25-ball 50, and Dhruv Jurel kept the chase alive with a calculated 53 off 31. Yet, it was Punjab바카라™s bowling that held its nerve in the death.
Harpreet Brar spun the match on its head with a game-changing 3/22, choking the Royals at the death and sealing a famous win.
Punjab Kings not alone qualified for the playoffs, Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru too stormed in the knockout stages after GT beat DC by 10 wickets on Sunday.
