Former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin commended Shreyas Iyer of Punjab Kings for his exceptional performance as a batsman and captain over the last two years. Iyer’s remarkable innings, especially his unbeaten 87 off 41 balls in the IPL Qualifier 2 last season against Mumbai Indians, not only displayed his batting prowess but also solidified his leadership qualities. This season, with four wins out of five matches, Punjab Kings lead the standings, with Ashwin noting that Iyer’s batting form has positively impacted his captaincy.
Ashwin highlighted the comfortable environment Iyer has fostered within the team, emphasizing open communication and camaraderie akin to a friendly game back home. He praised Iyer’s growth into a respected leader that teammates admire, attributing it to his impressive batting performances. In the ongoing season, Iyer has scored consistently well, with notable innings of 50, 69 not out, and 66 in his last three matches, accumulating a total of 203 runs at a strike rate of 187.96.
Ashwin further lauded Iyer’s intimidating presence at the crease, stating that his dedication to self-improvement and willingness to work on weaknesses set him apart. He emphasized that Iyer’s commitment to enhancing his skills is rare in the cricketing world, noting that many players fail to address their shortcomings, unlike Iyer’s proactive approach.
