Punjab Kings‘ new skipper Shreyas Iyer needed just three runs to reach his century in the team’s campaign-opener in IPL 2025 on Wednesday against Gujarat Titans, but Shashank Singh was hitting the ball like a dream, smashing five fours in the last over bowled by Mohammed Siraj. As a result, Iyer didn’t get the strike back and remained not out at 97 off just 42 balls. But that’s the last thing on Iyer’s mind, who is super confident and cool about it, saying: “I will get it (century) in the next match.”
Courtesy a blistering partnership between Iyer and Shashank (44 not out off 16 balls), Punjab put up a mammoth 243/5 on the board, but Gujarant came close in a valiant run-chase before they eventually fell 11 runs short at 232/5.
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Talking about his partnership with Shashank, which saw them adding 81 runs in the last 4.4 overs, Iyer shared his thoughts.
“The interaction we had in the middle was to post a massive total on the board because we knew Gujarat Titans have a solid batting lineup and in IPL it’s not over until it’s over,” Iyer said in a video posted by IPL, where he is seen discussing the match with Shashank. “I just asked him to go for big shots, don’t look at my hundred, I will get it in the next match.”
Iyer also had a piece of advice for young opener Priyansh Arya, who smoked the ball to all parts of the ground during his 23-ball 47.
“I asked Priyansh not to go ahead of the game and to control his shape as much as he could,” said Iyer.
He credited Shashank for delivering the runs that in the end proved to be the difference between a win and a loss.
“I got motivated by watching your batting last year which gave (me) solid confidence, to be honest. Also the way you came in and smashed the bowl from the third ball…It’s those 44 runs which you made (that) created a lot of impact and I hope you continue with your form,” Iyer told Shashank.
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