NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer will play for Punjab Kings in the next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) after being purchased for a record Rs 26.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.
With the whopping price tag, Shreyas broke Mitchell Starc’s record of Rs 24.75 crore to become the second most expensive player in the IPL history.
Released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the auction, Iyer had led the franchise to their third IPL title in 2024, after missing the entire 2023 season due to a back injury.
The 29-year-old was originally bought by KKR for Rs. 12.25 crore in 2022, taking on the role of captain following seven seasons with Delhi Capitals (DC).
Iyer’s IPL captaincy journey began in 2018 when he succeeded Gautam Gambhir at Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) mid-season.
Renowned for his prowess against spin, the middle-order batter has scored 3,127 runs in 116 IPL matches at a strike rate of 127.47, including 21 half-centuries.
In T20s overall, Iyer has accumulated 5,759 runs in 215 matches at a strike rate of 132.57, with three centuries and 36 fifties.
Ahead of the auction, he showcased his form with a blistering 130* off just 57 balls in Mumbai’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy opener against Goa, striking at 228.07 with 11 fours and 10 sixes.
Iyer has also impressed in domestic cricket this season. In the Duleep Trophy, he scored 154 runs in three matches, including two fifties. During Mumbai’s Irani Cup victory against Rest of India, he contributed scores of 57 and 8.
In the ongoing Ranji Trophy, Iyer has amassed 452 runs in four matches at an average of 90.40, including a double century (233).
Since his return to domestic cricket, Iyer has tallied 801 runs in 14 innings across nine matches, averaging 61.61, with three centuries and three fifties.
However, his international appearances have been limited; he last played for India during the ODI series against Sri Lanka in August, scoring 38 runs across three innings.
