Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer was left dejected after they suffered a six-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but remained optimistic that his side has what it takes to return next year and lift the trophy. The 2025 edition of IPL Punjab Kings reached the final for the first time in 11 years, second overall, which was also their third overall appearance in the IPL Playoffs as well. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer was appearing in his second straight IPL final after leading KKR to the title in 2024.

“Dejected, to be honest, but the way our boys came up to the occasion, it wasn’t meant to be, but a lot of credit goes to the support staff, the owners, and everyone else who’s participated in this. Considering the last game, I personally felt that 200 was a par score. They bowled brilliantly, especially Krunal, who carries a lot of experience. I believe that was the turning point. I am very proud of each and every individual who has participated in this team,” Iyer said.

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“There are a lot of youngsters who are playing their first season, and they’ve shown a lot of fearlessness. We wouldn’t be here without them. Kudos to them. We have to be here and win the trophy next year. The way we turned up to each match was with a belief of saying, ‘We can win this game’. Hopefully, we can be here next season and play some good cricket,” said Shreyas Iyer again in the post-game interview.

However, Shreyas Iyer had kept the hopes of all PBKS fans with his stunning leadership throughout the season. His game-winning knock of 87 saw his side beat five-time champions Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2. Unfortunately, he failed to make an impact, and eventually, PBKS lost the final.