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First Time Ever In IPL! Shreyas Iyer Creates History With Rare Captaincy Record

Soumyajit Dutta

Shreyas Iyer [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]Shreyas Iyer [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]

Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured their place in the IPL 2025 playoffs with a thrilling 10-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday, propelled by explosive batting and a spin masterclass. Meanwhile, the skipper, Shreyas Iyer, etched his name in the history of IPL books as captain.

Shreyas Iyer Enters IPL's History Books

Skipper Shreyas Iyer, in his maiden season with Punjab, etched his name as the first player to captain three different franchises into the IPL playoffs. 

Having previously guided Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 to the knockout stages, Iyer joined an elite group of five players to lead three IPL teams. 

PlayersFranchises Captained
Shreyas IyerDelhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings
Steve SmithRajasthan Royals, Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant
Kumar SangakkaraPunjab Kings, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad
Mahela JayawardenePunjab Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Delhi Capitals
Ajinkya RahaneRajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, Kolkata Knight Riders

However, he stands out as only the second, alongside Kumar Sangakkara, to do so as a full-time captain. Interestingly, after this record, Punjab's performance was notable to see as well.

Punjab’s Batting Onslaught

Opting to bat first, PBKS posted a formidable 219/5, fuelled by Wadhera’s aggressive 70 and Shashank’s late fireworks. Iyer chipped in with a brisk 30, anchoring the innings during a middle-over showdown. 

Rajasthan’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, particularly in the death overs, where Shashank’s six-hitting spree left the Royals reeling.

Royals’ Valiant Chase Falls Short

In response, RR launched a fiery assault, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (50 off 25) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (40 off 15) smashing 76 runs in under five overs. However, Brar’s triple strike, removing Suryavanshi, Jaiswal, and the dangerous Jos Buttler, triggered a collapse. 

Despite late heroics from Riyan Parag, Rajasthan fell agonisingly short at 209/7. The win lifted Punjab to 17 points, tying them with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who hold second place due to a superior net run rate. PBKS will look to solidify their position in upcoming clashes.