Shreyas Iyer details 'respect' he got at Punjab Kings, makes blunt comparison with KKR: 'This allowed me...'

Shreyas Iyer details 'respect' he got at Punjab Kings (BCCI Photo)

The stocks of Shreyas Iyer has witnessed a massive surge following his success at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he played a key role in India's successful campaign, and a successful stint as the new captain of Punjab Kings, where he guided the franchise to a runners-up finish at IPL 2025.

Iyer was roped in by the franchise for Rs 26.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction, making him the second most expensive buy in IPL's history. And the 30-year-old stood up to the expectations in his maiden stint with the franchise. Not only he guided the team to the finals after a decade but also finished as the franchise's highest scorer, amassing 604 runs from 17 matches at an impressive strike-rate of 175.07 - the highest among any batter in the Top 10.

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In an interview with GQ India, Iyer opened up about what worked for him in the franchise and made blunt comparison with his stint as a leader at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Under Iyer's captaincy, KKR lifted their third IPL title but it has been alleged that Gautam Gambhir, the mentor then, was given most of the credit.

“I offer a lot as a captain and player. If I get respect, anything can be accomplished,” said Iyer. “This is what happened at Punjab. They gave me all the support I needed, whether it was the coaches, management or players. I was coming off a high, having just helped India win the Champions Trophy. So all the stakeholders at Punjab Kings were eager to hear from me and have me contribute meaningfully. This allowed me to be decisive both on and off the field. I was in every meeting with the management and coaches, contributing strategically. This is something I love,” he added.

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Reflecting on his time with KKR, Iyer admitted that he was part of the talks but partially. “I was part of the conversation, but wasn’t completely in the mix. I’ve had to work my way up to get to the position I am in now,” said Iyer.

While Iyer-led Punjab Kings finished second at IPL 2025, KKR, who entered the edition as defending champions, failed to find their foot and finished eighth on the ten-team table. The franchise secured five wins in their 14 clashes.