3 major challenges for Shreyas Iyer as PBKS captain for IPL 2025

Punjab Kings (PBKS) formed a new-look squad ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season and recently named Shreyas Iyer as their captain. They went into the auction with the biggest purse and secured the services of some of the finest players.

While they successfully built a strong squad, one that is even capable of lifting the title if everything falls in place, it won’t be a cakewalk for the skipper. One of the most experienced players on the side who is coming on the back of some tremendous performances, expectations from Iyer will be high.

Punjab Kings spend big bucks to get Iyer’s services, making him the second-most expensive player in the league’s history, only after Rishabh Pant. While the wicketkeeper-batter bagged a ₹27 crore bid, Iyer fell just one bid short as PBKS sealed the deal at ₹26.75 crore.

That being said, let us look at some challenges that Shreyas Iyer might face as PBKS’ captain:

---

#3 Title-winning captain's tag

2024 IPL Final - Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad - Source: Getty

One of the biggest responsibilities that lies in Shreyas Iyer’s hands is to lead the team to their maiden title. Having won the title with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2024, Iyer will be expected to replicate something similar this time.

Before 2024, KKR had last won an IPL title in 2014. Under Iyer’s leadership, the franchise ended their decade-long title drought and finally got their hands on the silverware again. Even after ending the season on a high note, the team parted ways with Iyer.

PBKS, who are still looking for their maiden title, will have high hopes from Shreyas Iyer, who will step into a familiar role but with an entirely different unit of players.

---

#2 Team culture and relation with think tank

With a whole new bunch of players, and also a new coaching staff and mentors, it’ll be a tough task for Shreyas Iyer to build a good relationship with everyone in the unit. Team culture is one aspect where PBKS have struggled for a long time now.

Eventually, it’ll come down to how Iyer maintains his relationship with the team’s head coach, Ricky Ponting. The two have previously worked together during their stint with the Delhi Capitals, during the IPL 2020 season where Iyer led the team to the final.

As Ponting joined the think tank, there were new strategies seen in place at the auction table as PBKS built one of the finest squads this season. With top players in their ranks, Iyer will have a task in hand to carry everyone as a team.

---

#1 Picking the right team combination as per venue and conditions on offer

While picking the right combination based on the surface and conditions is something that every captain must do, it’ll be a challenge for Shreyas Iyer for home matches. PBKS got themselves a new home stadium last season (Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium), and the conditions are not known to many.

It’ll take time for the think tank and Iyer to analyze and find the right players for the home games and also understand the venue conditions. While sorting that out, they must also keep in mind players who’d suit the best for away matches, on the different kinds of pitches.

Based on the conditions on offer, Iyer will have to make decisions like who he’d like to send up the order, to open the batting lineup, and who will join hands with Arshdeep Singh to bowl in the death overs, among others.