Shreyas Iyer Joins Three Elite Players in Unique IPL Record after Punjab Kings Captaincy

Shreyas Iyer has created history by joining an elite list of players with a unique record in the IPL. He now stands among legends like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Steven Smith in achieving the incredible feat of captaining three different franchises in the IPL.

Kumar Sangakkara was the first to achieve this rare feat, having captained Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kings XI Punjab, and Deccan Chargers. Mahela Jayawardene followed suit, leading Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, and Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Steven Smith, a modern-day Australian legend, added his name to the list by captaining Rajasthan Royals, Pune Warriors, and Rising Pune Supergiants. Now, Shreyas Iyer has joined these esteemed players after being announced as the captain of Punjab Kings for the 2025 IPL season.

Iyer’s IPL Captaincy Journey

Iyer’s journey as a captain began with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), where he made his IPL debut in 2015. He spent seven seasons with the franchise, including three years as their captain from 2018 to 2020. Although his first season as a captain in 2018 didn’t go as planned, with the team finishing last, he quickly turned things around. Under his leadership, the Delhi Capitals reached the playoffs consecutively in 2019 and 2020. The 2020 season was remarkable as he led the team to their maiden IPL final, finishing as table toppers during the league stage.

In 2021, Shreyas Iyer missed the first half of the season due to an injury, during which Rishabh Pant took charge and led the Delhi Capitals for the entire season. The following year, in 2022, Iyer joined Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as captain. While the 2022 season proved challenging, with the team failing to meet expectations, another setback came in 2023 when an injury sidelined him for the entire season. However, Iyer made a remarkable comeback in 2024, leading KKR to their first IPL title in a decade, making him the 8th captain in IPL history to lift the trophy.

Now, as the captain of the Punjab Kings, Iyer has added another milestone to his IPL career. This achievement marks a significant chapter in his journey, and with him leading Punjab Kings in the 2025 season, he is set to achieve even more success as a 30-year-old player. 

While Iyer’s captaincy has undoubtedly boosted PBKS's chances, IPL betting sites in India offer more competitive odds for the team to either win the 2025 IPL season or secure a spot in the top four.

Shreyas Iyer’s IPL Captaincy Record

Combining his leadership roles across Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, here are his overall statistics as a captain:

This win percentage places him among the most successful IPL captains in terms of consistency. Additionally, Iyer also holds a unique record for captaining two different teams to IPL finals.

Shreyas Iyer’s Overall Batting Performance as a Player

In his debut IPL season in 2015, Iyer was awarded the Emerging Player of the Year, and his best IPL season came in 2020, when he scored an impressive 519 runs.

Below are the stats of his overall batting performance:

Shreyas Iyer’s Batting Performance as a Captain

As a captain, Shreyas Iyer has demonstrated exceptional leadership and proven to be a consistent performer with the bat. Here are his batting stats as a captain:

• Matches as Captain: 71

• Runs Scored: 2,145

• Batting Average: 32.24

• Strike Rate: 125.70

• Fifties: 12

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