Punjab Kings Need A Responsible Shreyas Iyer Against KKR, Not A Reckless One

Shreyas Iyer will hope to make it big vs KKR [Source: @iplt20.com]

There is an old saying in "Lose your anchor early and the ship is bound to sink." That is exactly what’s been happening with Punjab Kings lately.

As Shreyas Iyer gears up for an emotional return to Eden Gardens, the ground where he once led Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 IPL title, all eyes will be on whether he can pull himself out of the mini-slump he has fallen into.

Punjab Kings might have stunned KKR earlier this season by defending a measly 111, the lowest total ever defended in IPL history. But Saturday’s clash is a whole new ball game. And if PBKS want to do the double over the Knights, their captain needs to dig deep and bat with his head, not just his hands.

Let's dive straight into what’s been going wrong for Shreyas Iyer lately and why his early dismissal is leaving PBKS with their backs against the wall.

Shreyas Iyer’s Diminishing Returns In Last 3 Games

It wasn’t long ago that Shreyas was setting the IPL 2025 stage on fire. He kicked off his Punjab Kings journey with fireworks: an unbeaten 97 against Gujarat Titans and a cool-headed 52* against Lucknow Super Giants. Back-to-back match-winning knocks and PBKS fans were dreaming big.

But cricket’s a funny game. Form is as fickle as English weather. In the last three games, here is how Shreyas’ bat has been behaving:

Three games. Thirteen runs. No wonder the alarm bells are ringing in the Punjab Kings camp.

What is worse is the pattern. The confidence that oozed from his blade earlier has suddenly vanished. Instead of building innings, he is trying to go all guns blazing from ball one, a strategy that's backfiring badly.

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Impact Of Shreyas Iyer’s Early Wicket

When your skipper falls early, it is like pulling the rug out from under the team’s feet. Here's a quick look at how Shreyas’ performance correlates directly with PBKS’ fortunes this season:

See the trend? When Iyer fires, Punjab fly. When he doesn’t, the innings crumbles like a house of cards. His presence at the crease acts like a calming influence. When he is around, guys like Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis can play with freedom.

But when Shreyas throws it away early, the middle order gets thrown to the wolves. They are forced to rebuild rather than attack, not the easiest task in high-pressure T20 games

Why Shreyas Iyer Needs To Buckle Up Against KKR?

Coming back to Eden Gardens, Shreyas will have to bring his A game. And the biggest threat standing between him and a big knock? Two magicians with the ball: Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.

Both are deadly on that two-paced Eden wicket and both love hunting right-handers. But here’s the silver lining, Shreyas’ IPL record against these two is actually pretty solid.

(Iyer vs Chakravarthy and Narine)

That’s why it’s absolutely vital that Iyer plays the waiting game early on. No need to manufacture shots. No need to premeditate. Eden’s surface rewards smart cricket, not rash heroics.

If he can weather the Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy storm, it will open the floodgates for Punjab. He can also shield power-hitters like Shashank and Stoinis, who are much better against pace than they are against high-quality spin.

PBKS need their captain to lead from the front. Right now, Shreyas Iyer is the glue that holds this batting unit together. One reckless shot and the innings falls apart. One composed knock and Punjab are back in business. 

It’s high time Iyer ditches the ultra-aggressive approach and goes back to what he does best: building innings, pacing chases and finishing games.

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