Team India batter Shreyas Iyer expressed surprise at being acquired by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a staggering ₹26.75 crores in the IPL 2025 auction, making him the second most expensive player in IPL history after Rishabh Pant.
The 30-year-old was recently named PBKS captain for the 2025 season following his stellar performance with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) last year. KKR clinched their third IPL title with one of the most dominant seasons in league history. In an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Iyer shared his thoughts on the record-breaking auction price:
“I was absolutely gobsmacked. I wasn’t expecting that amount, but I was expecting somewhere around that amount. So once [the bidding] crossed a certain point, I was covering my ears with cotton and I just didn’t want to stay in front of the TV.”
”I went to the washroom. I was in Hyderabad at that point of time, playing Syed Mushtaq Ali (Iyer was Mumbai captain). Yeah, I was dumbstruck.”
Additionally, Iyer shared his joy at joining the elite group of eight captains to have won the IPL trophy last year.
“The feeling is completely different – it’s like you’re holding the queen’s necklace, hypothetically speaking. The feeling is outstanding. It’s a proud feeling to be one of the eight guys.”
“The journey has been like a rollercoaster ride, it has never been easy. I’m someone who believes thoroughly in winning all the time. I hate losing, personally, and I think that’s what has elevated me to where I am right now as a captain,” he stated.
“We won’t be shifting blame onto one another”- Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer commended newly appointed PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting for his approach to sharing both successes and challenges with the captain. The pair previously collaborated at Delhi Capitals (DC), where Ponting served as head coach from 2018 to 2024, and Iyer led the team as captain from 2018 to 2020.
“The responsibility is shared equally, with no blame-shifting. Having worked with Ponting before, I know he values accountability and offers freedom, welcoming those who own their mistakes,” said Iyer.
He further added:
“I know his nature – he is someone who likes a person or a player who owns up to his mistakes. That’s one great thing about him. Also, T20 is such a fast-paced game, things are bound to happen. And the ones who make the least amount of mistakes are the ones who stay calm and composed. And I’m sure as a coach he provides that sort of composure to every individual.”
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