RR vs PBKS IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer Injured? Why Punjab Skipper Is Not Captaining In 2nd Innings?- Explained

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Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer showed remarkable determination and grit as he took the field with a painful finger injury, guiding his team out of early trouble in their IPL 2025 encounter against Rajasthan Royals on a scorching Sunday in Jaipur.

Despite nursing a heavily bandaged index finger-injured during a practice session the previous day-Iyer didn't shy away from responsibility. When PBKS found themselves on shaky ground after a top-order collapse, the captain stepped in to stabilize the innings with a composed 25-ball 30.

Opting to bat first at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Punjab had a rocky start, losing Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Mitch Owen in quick succession. But Iyer, renowned for his calm under pressure, immediately made an impact.

He got off the mark with a stylish flick through mid-wicket off Tushar Deshpande, showcasing his trademark poise even with a painful finger.

Kwena Maphaka, the young South African left-arm pacer, tested him with a short delivery, but Iyer latched on with a square cut for four. Teaming up with Nehal Wadhera, he kept the scoreboard ticking and brought up the 50-run partnership with two well-timed boundaries in Akash Madhwal's over.

Iyer then drove Punjab past the 100-run mark with a powerful shot through wide long-on. However, just as he looked set for a big score, he miscued a shot off Riyan Parag and was caught at long-off by Yashasvi Jaiswal. The 67-run stand between Iyer and Wadhera had revived PBKS' innings, keeping their hopes alive. Eventually Punjab finished on 219, setting up a huge total for the Rajasthan side.

The match began on a patriotic note as both teams lined up for the Indian national anthem to pay tribute to the armed forces. A heartfelt "Thank you Armed Forces" message lit up the stadium screens, honoring the dedication and bravery of India's military.

At the toss, Iyer took a moment to acknowledge the significance of the occasion, stating:
"Kudos to the armed forces who have worked for the country and made sure that we're in a comfortable position."

In the 2nd innings, Shreyas Iyer didn't take the field and was substituted by Impact Player Harpreet Brar, making way for Shashank Singh to be the stand-in captain.