The famous and best T20 league in the world, the Indian Premier League(IPL) playoffs will start on 10th October 2021. The schedule, fixtures, and venues for the playoffs of IPL 2021 have been decided by the IPL governing council after the end of the group stage matches. Dubai is hosting the first Qualifier and the final, while the other knockout rounds will be held in Sharjah.

Meanwhile, the IPL playoffs will mark the end of IPL 2021. Moreover, this is only the third time that the tournament is to be held outside of India(second leg and playoffs in 2021). The playoffs matches are set to take from 10th October to 15th October 2021 with DC, CSK, RCB, and KKR the top 4 teams in the points table.

Also Read: Every squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021

Delhi Capitals are the table toppers of this season with 22 points in 14 matches. Moreover, they were the runner-ups of the last edition. MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings comebacks from their last year's failure as they finished second in the group stage. RCB finished at third and Kolkata completed their playoffs run after finishing in the 4th spot.

Now let's look at the final points table after the league stage matches.

IPL 2021 Points Table after the league stage matches :

Read Also: T20 World Cup 2021: Venues that will host the matches in detail

IPL Playoffs: Qualifier 1 : Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings

Date and Time: 10th October 2021 at 7:30 pm (IST)

Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai.

Team News: DC vs CSK

Delhi Capitals :

Delhi Capitals is currently the best team of IPL 2021 as they finished as the topper of this season. Meanwhile, they are one of the most deserving teams to be the champion of this season. Although, they finish as a runner-up in the last edition against Mumbai Indians.

Chennai Super Kings :

Chennai Super Kings are known for their comebacks as they comebacks strongly after being left out from the race of playoffs last season. However, CSK has already won 3 IPL titles (2010,2011,2018) so far. So, Chennai is another contender for the title of this season.

Expectations:

As both of the teams are as strong as they play in the league stage matches. So, it will be very difficult to say who will cross the line and qualify for the finals. However, the other team will get the chance to play in qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator.

Read Also: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 fixture and schedule

IPL Playoffs: Eliminator : Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Date and Time: 11th October 2021 at 7:30 pm (IST)

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah.

Team news: RCB vs KKR

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

Royal Challengers Bangalore plays brilliantly throughout the whole tournament as they were in momentum till the first leg of the league stages. Although, they started well in the second leg but loses rhythm at the end. But, they will definitely be a contender for this season because they have plenty of options in their xi.

Kolkata Knight Riders :

Kolkata Knight Riders played brilliantly after losing back-to-back matches in the first leg of IPL 2021. In the first leg, KKR has secured only 2 wins in their 7 matches. However, they comebacks brilliantly in the second leg as they won 5 matches in their remaining 7 games. As they defeated their oldest rivalry Mumbai Indians to book the fourth and final spot of the playoffs.

Moreover, they are definitely a contender for becoming the champions of this season. Meanwhile, they had already won the title twice under captain Gautam Gambhir in 2012 and 2014.

Expectations:

Both the teams are capable to snatch it from the other as this will be a knockout game. However, Kolkata will be at an advantage as they are in great form in this UAE leg of IPL 2021. Whoever wins in this Eliminator, will play with the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 on 13th October 2021.

IPL Playoffs: Qualifier 2 : Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator

Date and Time: 13th October 2021 at 7:30 pm (IST)

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Sunil Gavaskar thinks this player can replace Hardik Pandya

IPL Playoffs: Final : Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2

Date and Time: 15th October 2021 at 7:30 pm (IST)

Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai.

SportzPoint.com gives you all the details you need to know about the playoffs of IPL 2021. Meanwhile, here is the full schedule and fixtures of the IPL 2021 playoffs. Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata will face each other in the playoffs, and can you guess who will be the champions of 2021?

IPL Playoffs Schedule and Fixtures: DC, CSK, RCB and KKR

The cricket world, known for its constant evolution, has seen a drastic shift in a month. Over the past month, six notable players have chosen to conclude their career on the global stage.

From legendary batsmen to powerful all-rounders, these departures mark a significant moment in the history of cricket. These aren't just names; they are players who have shaped matches and won hearts of millions.

Explore the list of 6 crickters who announced their retirements since last month.

1. Rohit Sharma (Test retirement) | May 7, 2025

On May 7, 2025, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking an end of his remarkable journey as a batsman, as well as India's captain in tests. His test career lasted for 12 years, since his debut in 2013.

Sharma transformed himself into a brilliant test opener in the latter half of his career. One of his defining moments in Test cricket arrived in 2019 against South Africa, where he hammered a majestic 212 runs as an opener, showcasing his ability to wear down opposition attacks.

He is the fifth-most successful Test captain for India, leading to 12 test victories.

Rohit Sharma stats in tests:

2. Virat Kohli (Test retirement) | May 12, 2025

Following Rohit's retirement, India lost the era's most dominant force from test cricket. The announcement of Virat Kohli's test retirement on May 12, 2025, resonated globally, leaving everyone shocked and upset. 

Kohli approached test with a fierce competitive spirit and hunger for runs. His dedication and skill-set in this format saw him notch 7 double centuries in his test career. He also became the most successful test captain of India during the 8 years (Dec 2014-Jan 2022) of his captaincy tenure, leading to 40 wins.

This decision of Kohli to step away from tests also brought the intrests of Indian fans in tests in question. This retirement indeed marked the end of an era.

Virat Kohli stats in tests:

3. Angelo Mathews (Test retirement) | May 23, 2025

Sri Lanka's enduring test pillar, Angelo Mathews, concluded his test career on May 23, 2025. He left behind a legacy of resilience and crucial performances as an all-rounder. 

Mathews possessed the ability to adapt his game and accelerate when required. His unbeaten 200 runs against Zimbabwe in 2020 stands out as one of his vital contributions. He also took a total of 33 wickets in tests.

He led Sri Lanka in 34 matches as a captain, and won 13 among them.

Angelo Mathews stats in tests:

4. Glenn Maxwell (ODIs Retirement) | June 2, 2025

Australia's one of the most captivating hitters and match-winners, Glenn Maxwell, announced retirement from ODIs on June 2, 2025. Known for his explosive strokeplay and ability to turn the game around, he had an amazing ODI career.

Maxwell's career has many moments to highlight, but nothing can match his astonishing 201* runs against Afghanistan in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Coming back with a back injury, this innings was a masterclass in aggressive and controlled batting.

He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, which goes down in history of ODI cricket.

Glenn Maxwell stats in ODIs:

5. Heinrich Klaasen (International retirement) | June 2, 2025

On June 2, 2025, Heinrich Klaasen announced his international retirement, which marked the end of a relatively short yet impactful career as a destructive batsman in white-ball cricket. 

Since his international debut for South Africa in 2018, he has been a hard-hitter of the ball, and became one of the most feared finishers in limited-overs formats. His phenomenal 174 runs off just 83 balls against Australia in an ODI in 2023 stands as a testament of his raw hitting power and ability.

Heinrich Klaasen international stats (2018-2025)

6. Nicholas Pooran (International retirement) | June 10, 2025

The West Indies batter, Nicholas Pooran, announced his international retirement on June 10, 2025, at the age of just 29. This marked one of the earliest retirement for a high-profile West Indies player.

As a left-hander wicket-keeper batsman, Pooran quickly established himself as an electrifying hitter in white-ball cricket. He brought an aggressive approach to the crease, with the potential to turn the game in his favour.

He has done exceptionally well in his short spanned international career. His 98 runs off 53 balls against Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup perfectly tells the story of his talent.

Nicholas Pooran international stats (2016-2025):

Till now, 11 Indian cricketers have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Former Indian captain and legend MS Dhoni became the latest Indian to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame list. 

Read Also | India's 2011 World Cup winning squad: Where are they now?

Along with MS Dhoni, Aussie great Matthew Hayden, South African legend Hashim Amla, former South African captain Graeme Smith, former Kiwi leader Daniel Vettori, and former Pakistan captain Sana Mir and English legend Sarah Taylor were also inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame 2025.

Unorthodox, unconventional and effective 🙌

A cricketer beyond numbers and statistics 👏

MS Dhoni is inducted in the ICC Hall of Fame 🥇

More ➡️ https://t.co/oV8mFaBfze pic.twitter.com/AGRzL0aP79

— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025

Here are the Indian cricketers who have been inducted into the prestigious "ICC Hall of Fame". 

Indian Cricketers in the ICC Hall of Fame

It's been 14 years since India lifted the 2011 World Cup, a moment etched in every fan's memory. That legendary squad brought joy to millions on that unforgettable night in Mumbai, but where are they now?

While many retired, some explored new paths in cricket, and others found different callings, one key player continues to represent India in ODIs.

Explore the current status of India's 2011 World Cup winning squad and know their journeys since the victory and where are they now.

The unforgettable 2011 World Cup Winning squad

Here's the overview of squad members:

MS Dhoni (C & WK), Virender Sehwag (VC), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla, Ravichandran Ashwin.

Coach: Gary Kirsten

Find out the updates on each one of them below:

1. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni is the winning captain of 2011 World Cup, who finished off in style with a six to seal the victory for India. He also led India to victory in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, becoming the first captain to claim all ICC limited-overs trophies.

He continued to captain India for several years and played a crucial role as a finisher in white-ball cricket. He also led CSK to win four IPL titles from 2011-2023.

• Retirement: Dhoni retired from test cricket in December 2014, and announced his retirement from international cricket (ODIs and T20Is) on August 15, 2020. However, he continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• Currently doing: Continues to captain Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He is involved in various business ventures and endorsements.

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

2. Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag was the vice-captain of India's 2011 WC-winning squad and provided explosive starts at the top of the order, including a stunning knock of 175 runs against Bangladesh in the opening match.

He continued his attacking batting in Test and ODI formats for a few more years.

• Retirement: Sehwag retired from all forms of international cricket in October 2015.
• Currently doing: He is a prominent cricket analyst and commentator, and a member of the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. He also runs the Sehwag International School in Haryana and has ventured into the sports gear and organic farming business.

3. Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir was an integral part of India's success in the 2011 WC, especially with his knock of 97 runs in the final. He continued to play a key role in India's top order for a period. He also led Kolkata Knight Riders to 2 IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.

Later, he served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants and then KKR, guiding them to their third title in 2024.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from all formats in December 2018.
• Currently doing: In July 2024, Gambhir was appointed as the head coach of India for three years until the 2027 ODI World Cup. He got his first major ICC title in a coaching role by leading India to victory in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy as the head coach.

4. Sachin Tendulkar 

Sachin Tendulkar was the leading run-scorer for India and the second overall in the tournament (482 runs in 9 innings), including two centuries.

He scored his record-setting 100th international century in March 2012 and became a member of the Rajya Sabha in the same year. Additionally, he was a part of Mumbai Indians team that won the IPL in 2013.

• Retirement: Retired from ODI cricket in December 2012, and from tests in November 2013. He also retired from the IPL in 2013.
• Currently doing: Sachin continues to be involved in cricketing and social initiatives, and remains a global ambassador for the sport.

Read Also: Pataudi Trophy renamed as Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy ahead of India vs England test series

5. Yuvraj Singh

The "Player of the tournament," Yuvraj Singh, delivered an exceptional all-rounder performance throughout the World Cup. He successfully battled germ-cell cancer in 2011 and returned to cricket the next year (2012).

Yuvraj continued to play white ball cricket for India occasionally and played in various IPL teams, winning twice with SRH in 2016 and MI in 2019.

• Retirement: Formally retired from international cricket in June 2019.
• Currently doing: He is involved in various cricketing leagues and charitable initiatives. He also mentored India's emerging star, Abhishek Sharma, and has a significant role in shaping his career.

6. Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina played an attacking role in the lower middle order, particularly in the quarter-final against Australia (unbeaten 34), and the semi-final against Pakistan (unbeaten 36).

He continued to be a significant part of India's white-ball setup for several years and was a key player for CSK in the IPL.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from all forms on August 15, 2020, on the same day as Dhoni. However, he continued to play domestic cricket and in various T20 leagues for a period.
• Currently doing: Raina has been involved in commentary and various cricket-related activities.

7. Virat Kohli

As the youngest batsman in the squad (22 years 95 days), Virat Kohli showed glimpses of his future greatness by performing well in the 2011 World Cup, including a century against Bangladesh.

Kohli rose to be one of the world's premier batsmen and captained India across all formats. He became the most successful test captain in history for India. He led India to numerous victories and broke several batting records.

He is the only player from India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad who is still actively playing international cricket (ODI format).

• Retirement: He retired from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup in 2024, and also retired from Test Cricket in 2025.
• Currently doing: He won the IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and had a phenomenal season. He is also expected to play in the 2027 World Cup.

Read Also: The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

8. Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan was a part of India's World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and played as a batting all-rounder, primarily in the lower middle order. He continued to play in domestic cricket and the IPL, playing for various franchises, including KKR and SRH.

Pathan was also a part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup winning squad.

• Retirement: Retired from all formats in February 2021.
• Currently doing: He became a member of parliament from the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency of West Bengal, and has been seen participating in the Legends League Cricket.

9. Zaheer Khan

The shepherd of India's pace attack, Zaheer Khan, was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup with 21 wickets in 9 matches. His contributions to the bowling unit were phenomenal.

He continued to represent India in internationals for a few more years.

• Retirement: Khan retired from international cricket in October 2015.
• Currently doing: He has been involved in commentary and coaching roles. He is also a cricket expert and analyst.

10. Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh proved to be crucial for the team in the WC 2011, with the kind of experience he had in the game. He continued to play for India occasionally after the World Cup, but his international appearances became less frequent.

He continued to play IPL for franchises like MI, CSK and KKR.

• Retirement: Retired from all formats in December 2021.
• Currently doing: He is a cricket commentator and an analyst. He has also ventured into politics, serving as a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

Read Also: 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium

11. Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra played three matches in the 2011 World Cup and was particularly effective in the semi-final against Pakistan, where he took 2 wickets for 33 runs.

He faced injuries but made a remarkable comeback to the Indian T20I team and played the T20 World Cup that year.

• Retirement: Nehra retired from all forms of international cricket in November 2017.
• Currently doing: He has been involved in coaching in the IPL (head coach: Gujarat Titans) and won the 2022 season.

12. Munaf Patel

Munaf Patel played a significant role as a consistent medium-pacer in the 2011 WC winning squad, picking 11 wickets in 8 matches. He continued to play domestic cricket and in various T20 leagues after the World Cup.

• Retirement: He retired from all formats in December 2018.
• Currently doing: Served as the bowling coach for Delhi Capitals since the 2024 season and has been seen participating in Legends League Cricket.

13. S Sreesanth

S Sreesanth came in as a replacement for Praveen Kumar (ruled out due to injury) in India's 2011 WC squad. He played 2 matches, including the final.

His career was significantly impacted by a spot-fixing scandal in the 2013 IPL, which led to a ban from cricket.

• Retirement: He made a comeback in domestic cricket after the ban was reduced, and retired from all domestic forms in March 2022.
• Currently doing: Sreesanth is the co-owner of the Kollam Aeries team in the Kerala Cricket League. He also participated in reality shows like Big Boss and was involved in acting and other ventures.

14. Piyush Chawla 

The youngest player in India's 2011 World Cup winning squad, Piyush Chawla (22 yrs 46 days), picked 4 wickets in the three matches he played. He continued to play domestic cricket and IPL for various franchises and won.

• Retirement: Chawla announced from all forms of cricket in June 2025. His last international appearance for India was in 2012.
• Currently doing: He has been associated with the sport as an analyst and was seen giving inputs in per-match shows in IPL and other leagues.

Read Also: Most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket by an Indian bowler

15. Ravichandran Ashwin

The spin master, Ravichandran Ashwin, played only 2 matches in the tournament, picking up 4 wickets. He turned out to be one of the most successful Test bowlers for India, with 537 Test wickets.

Ashwin later developed into a useful all-rounder and could bat well. He was also named ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2016.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from international cricket in December 2024.
• Currently doing: He is actively involved in playing cricket in IPL and played in the TNPL as well. Ashwin is also an active YouTuber, who analyses and shares cricketing stories on his channel, which currently has 1.71M subscribers. 

The celebration of Royal Challengers Bangaluru's (RCB) first title win in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) has now become a cause of crisis. 11 people died and about 50 people were injured in a Bengaluru stampede during the celebration held outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Also Read: Official statement from RCB after the tragic loss of 11 people during RCB's celebration

In connection with this tragic incident, Bangaluru Police has arrested four people including a senior RCB official, while some top officials of Karnataka Cricket Association (KSCA) are still absconding.

Police arrested RCB employee

Among those arrested by the police, the prominent name is that of Nikhil Sosale, who is the marketing head of RCB. Nikhil is considered close to Virat Kohli and was seen actively in every match of the team.

He led the team's branding and marketing strategy and has been associated with the franchise for many years. This year, a picture of a woman sitting next to Anushka Sharma in the stadium during every RCB match went viral on social media. Later it was revealed that this woman was none other than Nikhil Sosale's wife Malvika Nayak.

Arrest comes after Senior IPS officer took charge

The police, on Thursday, had booked RCB, event management company DNA and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) administration over the Bengaluru stampede with CM Siddaramaiah asking the police to arrest the representatives. The KSCA officials have been absconding since Thursday night, the police said.

The arrest comes moments after Senior IPS officer Seemant Kumar Singh took charge as the new Commissioner of Bengaluru City Police, replacing B Dayananda, who was among senior officers suspended over the stampede.

After taking charge, Singh had vowed to uphold the work of his predecessors and act swiftly on the stampede. “I will immediately meet with my officers and take necessary steps regarding the incident,” he said.

Bengaluru Stampede case: What happened actually?

What was meant to be a day of celebration for cricket fans in Karnataka turned chaotic on Wednesday, as a hastily cancelled victory parade for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team gave way to confusion, swelling crowds, and a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The morning began with an announcement from team management: a victory parade would be held on an open bus, traveling the short distance from the iconic Vidhana Soudha to the stadium. Free passes for a post-parade celebration at the stadium were to be made available online. But by 11:56 am, the Bengaluru Traffic Police said that the parade was off.

However, by the time the RCB team arrived at HAL airport around 1:30 pm and travelled to their hotel before heading to Vidhana Soudha, thousands had already assembled along the intended parade route. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was slated to felicitate the players at a brief public ceremony.

Also Read: From emerging star to captain fantastic: Shreyas Iyer's IPL journey

Some spectators perched on treetops and building ledges, including the roof of the nearby Karnataka High Court. Meanwhile, large crowds also began to cluster outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Namma Metro announced that it would bypass Cubbon Park and Dr B.R. Ambedkar metro stations due to overcrowding.

By 3 pm, police estimated that over 50,000 people were gathered within a one-kilometre radius of the stadium. Tragedy struck around 4 pm, when Gate 3 of the stadium partially opened. The mix of ticket-holders and those without passes surged toward the entrance, triggering the stampede.

Shreyas Iyer's IPL journey is a compelling story of growth, dedication, and leadership. From stepping into the grand stage as a promising young batsman to eventually shouldering the responsibility of captaincy and winning the trophy, he has finally earned the love and respect he deserved from all the cricket fans.

Explore this journey with us and relive those battles he fought to evolve from an emerging star to captain fantastic!

Iyer's IPL debut and initial impact (2015-2017) | Delhi Capitals

Shreyas Iyer made his IPL debut at the age of 20 years and 6 months in 2015 season. His journey began with a bang when he was acquired by Delhi Capitals for ₹2.6 crore, which made headlines as he became the highest earning uncapped player in the tournament.

His auction bid spotlight on him and he responded with a sensational debut, scoring 439 runs at an average of 33.76 in that season. He also won the IPL emerging player for the season award in 2015.

Iyer became DC's favourite and was retained for seven years in a row.

Read Also: Teams to finish last in IPL Points Table

Youngest captain for DC and early leadership (2018)

The 2018 season was a significant turning point in Shreyas Iyer's IPL journey. At the age of 23 years and 142 days, he was given the captaincy, which made him the youngest captain for DC franchise and the fourth-youngest in any IPL side in history.

Iyer smashed a match-winning knock of 93* runs off 40 balls against KKR in his captaincy debut. In the 8 matches he captained, DC won 4 out of them, showing a 50% winning rate.

Leading from the front: The Delhi Capitals Era (2019-2022)

Iyer continued as a captain, leading the franchise into a new, more successful era from 2019 onwards. He led the team into the playoffs for the first time in seven years, finishing third in the league stage in IPL 2019.

He also had a strong season with the bat, scoring 463 runs.

Read Also: Most wins after 76 games as captain in IPL

Maiden Final appearance: A historic season (2020)

Under his strong leadership, Delhi Capitals reached their maiden IPL final in the history of the tournament in IPL 2020. While the team lost to Mumbai Indians in the finals, Iyer's captaincy was highly praised.

He scored 65* runs off 50 balls in the final match.

Iyer's stats for DC (2015-2021)

Throughout his captaincy tenure (2018-2020), Iyer consistently contributed with the bat. His best season with the bat was in IPL 2020, when he scored 519 runs in 17 matches.

He was succeeded by Rishabh Pant as the captain in IPL 2021 season.

He scored a total of 2375 runs in 87 matches for Delhi Capitals.

A new chapter: KKR and the title glory (2022-2024)

Shreyas Iyer entered the 2022 mega auction and was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹12.25 crore, and was immediately appointed as the new captain.

His first year with KKR concluded with a 7th position finish in the points table, and him scoring 401 runs in 14 matches total.

Missing a season (2023)

Iyer was ruled out entirely of IPL 2023 due to his back injury and Nitish Rana stepped in as the captain for KKR during his absence. He eventually recovered and made a grand comeback in the next season.

The Champion season: Leading KKR to their 3rd IPL title

The 2024 IPL season under Iyer's captaincy was nothing short of a fairy tale for KKR, and they got the ending they deserved. They dominated the game throughout the tournament and finished at the top of the points table.

Things even accelerated in the playoffs, where KKR delivered stunning team performances. They finally clinched the IPL title by defeating SRH by 8 wickets in the Final.

This marked Iyer's first IPL title as a captain.

Read Also: Most IPL Finals: Teams with most final appearances in IPL history

Iyer's stats for KKR (2022-2024)

A record-breaking season with Punjab Kings (2025)

The reigning champion, KKR, made a big decision to not retain Shreyas Iyer ahead he mega auction, which left the fans shocked. However, Punjab Kings acquired him for ₹26.75 crore, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history.

He was appointed as the captain and consistently proved how he was worth every penny!

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

Finishing at the top of the table:

Punjab Kings often struggled for consistency in their earlier seasons, and Shreyas completely changed the narrative for them this year. He started this season for the franchise with a selfless 97*, sacrificing his maiden IPL century, and led the team to 9 wins out of 14 matches.

Under his captaincy, the team not only qualified for the playoffs after 11 years, but also finished at the top of the table in league stage.

Leading PBKS to a historic Final 

After breaking the 11-year drought of qualifying for playoffs, the team also reached their first final since 2014. Shreyas Iyer single-handedly made this possible with his match-winning knock of 87* off 41 balls in the Qualifier 2. He also became the captain with most 50+ scores in IPL playoffs.

Punjab put up an extremely tough fight for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final, ultimately losing by just 6 runs. Iyer's impact was undeniable for PBKS, who made this season a memorable one for them.

He also became the first captain to lead 3 different teams to the IPL Finals (DC in 2020, KKR in 2024, and PBKS in 2025).

Read Also: Most 50+ scores as a captain in IPL playoffs

Iyer's stats for PBKS (2025)

Shreyas Iyer was the highest-scorer for PBKS in 2025 and finished 6th in the Orange Cap leaderboard. He also smashed 39 sixes in this season, which overall the second-highest.