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He Talks To Even Net Bowlers: PBKS Coach Hails Iyer The Captain
Follow UsIt was Iyer’s captaincy more than his batting that gave Punjab the hope and freedom to spend INR 26.75 Cr to sign him in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Shreyas Iyer, the captain, has been the talk of the town ever since he lifted the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 title with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, they released him, and it was his captaincy more than his batting that gave Punjab the hope and freedom to spend INR 26.75 Cr to sign him in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Now, the decisions seem to be paying off as Punjab have already won five out of their eight games. More importantly, Iyer has shown his calibre, both as a batter by scoring two fifties and as skipper by defending 111 with a never-imagined-before attacking mindset.
PBKS’ spin-bowling coach Sunil Joshi was all praise for Iyer, the captain, ahead of the team’s re-match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), against whom they had defended 111.
"He talks to every player — even net bowlers. That builds confidence and shows his care for the team. It’s a hallmark of a genuine leader,” Joshi said in the pre-match press conference on April 25 (Friday) in Kolkata.
Eden Gardens, the venue which will host the must-win game for the hosts KKR on April 26 (Saturday), has been spin-friendly and Josh feels Iyer is one of the best suited to lead the charge against one of the best spin-bowling attacks in the IPL.
"If you look back at Shreyas' contribution from the Champions Trophy onwards, he has become more consistent, especially against spin. He accepts every challenge, every ball. That’s the mindset of a top player,” said the former India spinner.