IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer Reminisces His Ball Boy Days and Meeting Ross Taylor at Wankhede

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IPL 2025: Before he became one of the most dependable batters and an IPL-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer had a front-row seat to the cricketing extravaganza as a ball boy. The Punjab Kings skipper, gearing up for IPL 2025, took a nostalgic trip down memory lane during a recent appearance on JioHotstar's Superstars programme.

His reflections weren't about sixes, centuries, or trophies -- but rather about a shy teenage boy in the Mumbai U-14 squad, soaking in the electric atmosphere of the very first IPL season.

It was the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League at Wankhede Stadium, where Mumbai Indians locked horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Iyer, who was part of Mumbai's youth setup at the time, got the opportunity to be one of the ball boys stationed around the boundary. That evening wasn't just about witnessing top-tier cricket; it was also his first real brush with the grandeur of IPL.

"I grew up playing street cricket in my area, and at that time, I was playing for Mumbai's U-14 team. All the kids from the Mumbai squad were assigned to be ball boys, and it was my first experience of IPL up close," Iyer recalled during the show.

While many of his peers ran towards their favourite cricketers seeking gloves or autographs, Iyer hesitated -- until the moment he saw Ross Taylor. A self-confessed fan of the New Zealand star, Iyer gathered the courage to approach Taylor.

"Ross Taylor was one of my favourite players back then, so I went up to him and said, 'Sir, I am a big fan of yours.' He was very sweet and thanked me," Iyer said. Unlike his friends, he didn't muster the courage to ask for memorabilia, though he quietly wished he had.

Another memory etched in his heart was his brief interaction with Irfan Pathan, who was part of the Punjab Kings squad back then. Pathan, known for his easy-going nature, made the youngsters feel like part of the occasion.

"I vividly remember Irfan Pathan standing at long-on. He sat next to us and asked if we were enjoying the match. Irfan bhai was very popular at that time, and the Punjab team had some of the most good-looking boys, including Yuvi pa (Yuvraj Singh)," Iyer said, laughing.

Fast forward to 2025, and the boy on the sidelines is now a leader on the field. Having led Delhi Capitals to their maiden IPL final in 2020 and guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their third title in 2024, Iyer will now aim to script a new chapter with Punjab Kings. His leadership experience and consistent form-3,127 runs with 21 fifties since his debut in 2015 -- make him a key figure this season.

As Punjab Kings prepare to open their campaign against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 25, Iyer's story stands as a powerful reminder of how dreams that begin on the sidelines can one day take center stage.