Shreyas Iyer creates IPL history - no captain has ever done this before

Shreyas Iyer (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

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Rahul Dravid reflects on RR's narrow losses: 'One or two hits away in every game'

Poll Do you believe Shreyas Iyer will continue his successful captaincy in the upcoming matches? No, I doubt it. Yes, definitely!

NEW DELHI: Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh struck fluent half-centuries, while left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar picked up three crucial wickets as Punjab Kings defeated Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs on Sunday to seal a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs. The win took Punjab to 17 points — level with Royal Challengers Bengaluru — but RCB retained second place thanks to a better net run rate.Leading PBKS in his debut season with the franchise, Shreyas Iyer etched his name in the IPL record books by becoming the first player to captain three different teams into the playoffs. He had earlier led Delhi Capitals in 2019 and 2020, and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, before repeating the feat with Punjab this season.Overall, Iyer is only the fifth player to lead three different IPL franchises, joining the likes of Steve Smith (Rajasthan Royals, Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant), Kumar Sangakkara (Punjab Kings, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad), Mahela Jayawardene (Punjab Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Delhi Capitals), and Ajinkya Rahane (Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, Kolkata Knight Riders).Among them, only Iyer and Sangakkara have led all three sides on a full-time basis.Batting first, Punjab piled up a daunting 219 for 5, powered by Wadhera’s blistering 70 off 37 balls, Shashank’s unbeaten 59, and a handy 30 from captain Iyer.In reply, Rajasthan came out all guns blazing, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (50) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (40) adding 76 runs in just 4.5 overs. But Brar (3/22) provided the breakthrough by removing Suryavanshi in the fifth over, triggering a steady fall of wickets. RR eventually finished at 209 for 7, falling just short in a high-scoring thriller.Punjab Kings will now take on Delhi Capitals on May 24 and Mumbai Indians on May 26 in their final two league matches.

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