Punjab Kings Captain Shreyas Iyer Delivers a Stellar Performance with an Explosive 85 in Intra-Squad Practice Match | Cricket News

**Punjab Kings’ Captain Shreyas Iyer Delivers an Explosive 85 in Intra-Squad Practice Clash**

Punjab Kings’ skipper, Shreyas Iyer, showcased his formidable batting prowess with a scintillating 85 off just 41 deliveries in an intra-squad practice match, preparatory to the Indian Premier League (IPL) season at the new PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.

In Wednesday’s encounter, Iyer’s Team B posted a formidable total of 205 runs in the allotted 20 overs, largely propelled by his aggressive innings. Shashank Singh stood out for Team A with figures of 2/38. Chasing the target, Team A’s opening pair, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, laid a strong foundation with noteworthy scores of 72 runs off 31 balls and 66 runs from 42 deliveries, respectively. Adding impetus to the chase, Vishnu Vinod’s brisk 26* off 10 balls brought Team A agonizingly close, but they fell short by 7 runs, concluding at 198. Arshdeep Singh delivered an impressive spell, conceding only 22 runs in his four overs while claiming two wickets, according to Punjab Kings’ release.

Punjab Kings, in pursuit of their maiden IPL title, will commence their 2025 campaign against Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 25. Subsequently, the Kings will host Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings at their home venue in New Chandigarh.

The 18th IPL season launch press conference, held on March 18, saw participation from Head Coach Ricky Ponting, Captain Shreyas Iyer, and CEO Satish Menon, who elaborated on the team’s strategies and objectives for the upcoming season. Ponting expressed admiration for Iyer, acknowledging his leadership qualities and historic IPL triumphs: “He’s a fantastic individual and a proven IPL-winning captain. His recent integration into the team has reinforced our leadership core, and I am thrilled about working alongside him again,” Ponting remarked.

Discussing the team composition, Ponting highlighted the blend of youth and experience within the squad, underscoring their high caliber domestic and international talents. “Our squad amalgamation of young prospects and seasoned professionals is remarkable. The initial training session was promising, and the commitment shown by the players is exceptional,” he commented with satisfaction.

Shreyas Iyer echoed Ponting’s sentiments, commending his inspirational leadership which instills confidence and ambition within the team. “Ricky’s guidance makes you feel capable of excelling, and his confidence in us is unparalleled,” Iyer shared. Outlining the team’s primary objective, he asserted, “Our ultimate aim is to clinch the IPL trophy. Achieving this requires a gradual approach, but with the camaraderie and shared understanding we’ve developed, we are on a promising trajectory.”

**Punjab Kings’ Squad:**

– **Batters**: Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh (retained), Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Singh Pannu, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash
– **Wicketkeepers**: Josh Inglis, Vishnu Vinod, Prabhsimran Singh (retained)
– **Allrounders**: Glenn Maxwell (spin), Marcus Stoinis (pace), Marco Jansen (pace), Harpreet Brar (spin), Azmatullah Omarzai (pace), Aaron Hardie (pace), Musheer Khan (spin), Suryansh Shedge (pace)
– **Spinners**: Yuzvendra Chahal, Pravin Dubey
– **Fast Bowlers**: Arshdeep Singh (RTM), Lockie Ferguson, Yash Thakur, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Kuldeep Sen, Xavier Bartlett

For more updates on Cricket and the IPL 2025 news, schedule, points table, and results, follow NDTV Sports on Facebook or Twitter, and download the NDTV Cricket App for Android or iOS.