Ambati Rayudu, a former batter for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Team India, praised Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer for his selflessness during Tuesday, March 25,’s 2025 IPL match against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad. Iyer’s hesitation to play for his century impressed Rayudu as well, stating that Mumbai hitters are typically eager for three-figure scores.
Before the last over of the PBKS innings, the 30-year-old was on 97 from 42 deliveries. Iyer was unable to get his first IPL century, though, as Shashank Singh batted the full 20th over and hammered 23 runs off Mohammed Siraj.
After Robin Uthappa lavished Iyer with accolades for his selflessness, Rayudu informed ESPNcricinfo (via India Today):
“Especially coming from a Bombay batsmen. That’s quite a change. While growing up in Bombay, he must’ve only heard ‘100, 100, 100, 100.”
Ambati Rayudu
Uthappa had said on Star Sports:
“At a time like that, even as team man, you want to give the strike to the strike to the guy close to a hundred. You’ve got to 225 already, and you’re thinking ‘I want to get allow my captain get a 100”. But to get that instruction from the captain himself, saying – ‘hey, don’t worry about my hundred, the balls that can be it, put it away. That’s your job, that’s your role’. That for me tells you miles and acres about what a good leader this guy (Shreyas Iyer) is. It’s so important for a team like Punjab Kings.”
Robin Uthappa
PBKS amassed a huge score of 243/5 in 20 overs thanks to Iyer’s outstanding knock of 97* from 42 balls. After that, his bowlers put up a strong show to defend the total and assist PBKS in winning by 11 runs to start their IPL 2025 campaign.
Shashank Singh Reveals Shreyas Iyer’s Selfless Approach in GT vs PBKS
Captain Shreyas Iyer advised PBKS batsman Shashank Singh to make the most of their final over of the batting innings without worrying about Iyer’s century, Singh disclosed. Shashank scored an incredible 44* from 16 deliveries, maintaining his scorching form from the previous season.
He informed the host broadcasters at the midway point (via ESPNcricinfo):
“Yes, it was a good cameo. But looking at Shreyas, that motivated me even more. Let me be very honest – Shreyas, from ball one, said, ‘Don’t worry about my hundred!’ Just watching the ball and reacting to it. I try and make sure I get the boundaries.”
Shashank Singh
Shreyas Iyer joined PBKS from the reigning champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while Shashank was one of the players kept before the IPL 2025 auction. After leading KKR to their third IPL championship the previous season, Iyer was purchased by PBKS for an astounding ₹26.75 crores.
