Less than a year after guiding Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to IPL glory, Shreyas Iyer finds himself on the other side of the fence — this time leading Punjab Kings (PBKS) against his former team. When the two sides meet in Mullanpur on Tuesday, emotions will surely run high, but Iyer has clearly turned the page since KKR opted not to retain him ahead of IPL 2025.
That decision may have worked in Iyer’s favour. Under the guidance of Ricky Ponting at PBKS, the elegant right-hander has been in sublime touch. After a solid 2024 season, he has shifted gears dramatically this year, batting with a staggering strike rate of 208.33 — the best among Indian batters who’ve faced over 100 deliveries. Notably, he’s significantly improved against short-pitched bowling, once considered his Achilles heel.
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Now, Iyer is set to face one of the tournament’s most lethal spin duos in Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. The KKR pair has been exceptional this season, leading in spin average and economy. However, Iyer’s familiarity with them — and his record of not being dismissed by spin in IPL 2025 — adds an intriguing subplot to this high-stakes encounter. Expect some gripping individual battles on Tuesday.
#1 Quinton de Kock vs Arshdeep Singh
The South African opener will face Arshdeep early in the innings, and the numbers suggest a tight duel. In eight T20 innings, Arshdeep has dismissed de Kock four times while giving away just 38 runs in 39 balls. Among left-arm pacers, only Trent Boult has a better record against de Kock in T20s.
#2 Priyansh Arya vs Vaibhav Arora
Priyansh Arya has been a revelation in the powerplay, striking at a jaw-dropping 224.19. However, Arora, who often operates with the new ball, has kept things tight despite only picking up three wickets during this phase. His economy rate of 8.25 suggests he could be a key player in containing Arya’s early onslaught.
#3 Shreyas Iyer vs Sunil Narine
PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer has been in red-hot form this season, racking up 250 runs at a strike rate of 208.33. While Narine has dismissed him only once in eight IPL innings, Iyer’s strike rate of 195.91 against spin this year will test the mystery spinner’s craft. This middle-overs showdown might well dictate the momentum of the match.
