IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer reborn for the T20 stage

Chennai: Shreyas Iyer has been batting “with a sense of power” in the ongoing IPL. While Shreyas, a player reborn in T20 cricket, has endured a few ‘power failures’ this campaign, the Punjab Kings captain is well on course for his best IPL season as a batter.
At the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday, the 30-year-old came up with another electrifying display that showed how he has evolved in the shortest format. During the successful chase of 191 against Chennai Super Kings, Shreyas showed both sides of his game.

The right-hander perfectly assessed the Chepauk track in the early phase of his sparkling 72-run knock, before amping up the scoring rate with an assortment of boundary-leading strokes. According to the Mumbai man, high-scoring matches bring out the beast in him.
“To be honest, I love chasing. I feel that I thrive whenever there is a big total on the board. I need to build the charge and momentum so that the batters coming in after me can go full throttle. I keep believing in myself and know that if I stay out there, we can chase any target,” said Shreyas after leading Punjab to a four-wicket victory over CSK.
Shreyas, presently not in India’s T20I scheme, is making a strong case for a national-team comeback by matching the current trend — fearless new-age batting. To lend some perspective, he has accumulated 360 runs in 10 IPL 2025 matches at a staggering strike-rate (SR) of 180.90, almost 50 more than his average SR (131.49) in the league.

Following Shreyas’ rise from close quarters – they had worked together at Delhi Capitals – PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting hailed him for moving to a “new level”. “Shreyas started the tournament in a form that I have never seen him in before. His first three or four games were outstanding. I know how good a player he is, how good a leader he is. I know how hungry he is for success. He proved that to everybody tonight (Wednesday). I actually think that he has taken his game to a new level. He is a more mature player now and understands game situations probably better than ever before,” said Ponting.
Technical adjustments and tweaks to training routine have contributed to Shreyas’ resurgence. “You can see how his stance has evolved. He has opened his stance up a little bit, getting his right eye more to the release point of the ball. With his shoulders being open, he is able to create more access to the ball when the ball is back towards his body. He has to make sure that everything is in the right position and in sync,” Ponting added.
Speaking of “ticking small boxes” in the process, Shreyas said: “Lately, I have been batting a lot in the nets and facing quick bowlers with the new ball. I know that the ball is going to skid on and come at a great pace. I feel that it has given me immense confidence going into the middle. Attitude is something that I keep high (have) all the time when I take the field.”