As anticipated, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have officially named Shreyas Iyer as their captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The dynamic right-handed batter was acquired by the Punjab-based franchise during the IPL 2025 mega-auction for a staggering INR 26.75 crore, making headlines as one of the highest bids in auction history.

Iyer’s appointment as captain follows a stellar stint with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he showcased exceptional leadership. In IPL 2024, he guided KKR to their first title in a decade, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s premier captains.

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However, despite his success, Shreyas Iyer chose to test his market value, opting to enter the auction rather than stay with KKR. This decision, as noted by KKR CEO Venky Mysore, was driven by Iyer’s desire to explore his options and evaluate his worth in the cricketing marketplace.

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺! 💫#CaptainShreyas #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/jCYtx4bbVH

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) January 12, 2025

Late on January 12, PBKS took to their social media platforms to officially announce Iyer’s appointment, much to the delight of their fans. In a statement following his unveiling as captain, Iyer expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am honoured that the team has reposed its faith in me. I hope to repay the faith shown by the management to deliver our maiden title.”

Iyer’s leadership credentials are well-established. He recently led Mumbai to a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph, though his side failed to progress past the group stage in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

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On the international front, Iyer is a strong contender for India’s ODI squad set to face England next month and is likely to play a crucial role at No. 4 during the Champions Trophy 2025. His last appearance for the national team was in the ODI series against Sri Lanka in August 2024, making his comeback a storyline to watch as he takes charge of PBKS.