IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer to Shashank Singh — Don’t Worry About My Hundred, Just Go for Boundaries

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The IPL 2025 clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad turned into a run-fest, headlined by a scintillating knock from PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer and a late blitz by Shashank Singh.

Iyer's blistering 97 off just 42 balls was the highlight, but it was Shashank's fearless cameo that added the final flourish to a record-breaking innings.

Batting first after being put in by GT captain Shubman Gill, PBKS posted a massive 243/5 on the board. Iyer, leading from the front, showcased his mastery against both pace and spin, smashing nine towering sixes and five boundaries. Yet, despite falling just three runs short of a century, the captain's spirit was evident in his selfless words to his partner in the final over.

After the innings, Shashank Singh, who blazed away to 44 off just 16 balls, revealed how Iyer's encouragement freed him to attack fearlessly. "Yes, it was a good cameo. But looking at Shreyas, that motivated me even more. Let me be very honest - Shreyas, from ball one, said 'don't worry about my hundred! Just watching the ball and reacting to it,'" Shashank said.

The PBKS middle-order batter added: "I try and make sure I get the boundaries. When you bat at that number, it's likely that you won't always get a good hit. I know the shots I can back. I focus on my strengths rather than things I can't do."

Earlier in the innings, young Priyansh Arya set the tone for PBKS with a brisk 47 off 23 balls, laced with seven fours and two sixes. His attacking start ensured the platform was well laid for Iyer's onslaught. While Marcus Stoinis and Azmatullah Omarzai got starts, they couldn't convert them, falling victim to GT's best bowler of the night - R Sai Kishore. The left-arm spinner was the standout, finishing with 3/30 in his four overs, including two wickets in two balls.

Iyer's innings also carried historical significance. He became the first player ever to record 90+ scores on captaincy debut for two different IPL teams, having scored 93 for Delhi Capitals in 2018 and now 97* for Punjab Kings. Furthermore, he joined elite company as the fifth player to lead three IPL franchises and became the first to score fifties as captain for three different teams in the league.

What made Iyer's knock even more special was his transformation in handling short-pitched bowling. According to CricViz, he now averages a stunning 88 with a strike rate of 226 on pull and hook shots - a complete turnaround from earlier vulnerabilities. On Tuesday night, the short ball was dispatched with authority, sending a message to bowlers across the league.

As PBKS surged past the 200-run mark with three overs to go, the 81-run partnership between Iyer and Shashank took the total beyond 240. Despite missing out on a well-deserved century, Iyer's selflessness and Shashank's fireworks lit up the Narendra Modi Stadium. GT now face the tall task of chasing 244 - a steep mountain after a night dominated by Punjab Kings' fearless batters.