Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer may be enjoying a strong start to his IPL 2025 campaign, but in a recent candid chat, he opened up about one of the most emotionally difficult moments of his career – the 2025 Champions Trophy. (More Cricket News)
Speaking on Kandid with Kings, an in-house podcast series by Punjab Kings, Iyer shared how a poor nets session ahead of the tournament left him in tears. “The last time I cried properly was during the first practice session of the Champions Trophy because I could not bat well in the nets,” he said in conversation with host Sahiba Bali.
“I got angry and started crying. I had performed well in the England series and hence, I was expecting that I’ll continue in the same flow.”
But adapting to the conditions in Dubai proved tougher than expected for the 30-year-old. “The conditions were different, and hence, adapting on the first day itself was quite hard. When the practice session ended, I wanted to do some extra batting which I could not. Hence, I got very angry,” he added.
Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in IPL 2024, has now taken over the reins at Punjab Kings and already guided them to two wins from three matches this season. Despite the Champions Trophy setback, he has bounced back with a fresh perspective.
Off the field, Iyer continues to cherish the support of his close-knit family. “I am very close to my family. My mom and dad still come and drop me at the airport. Earlier I used to feel they should rest, but now I understand they want to be part of it,” he said.
Iyer will lead PBKS tonight as they take on Chennai Super Kings at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, with the match set to begin at 7:30 PM.
