Captain Shreyas Iyer by Punjab Kings (PBKS) made a big sacrifice during the IPL 2025 opening of his team against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Tuesday. Iyer, who was bought by PBKS for Rs 26.75 crores for auction IPL MEGA, sacrificed his century while it was blocked on 97 on 42 balls at the end of the pbks. Despite only three points to register a century during its beginnings in PBKS, Iyer decided to take the rear seat in the final, allowing Shashank Singh to release his arms. Shashank, who struck 44 undefeated on 16 bullets, took Mohammed Siraj to the cleaners, breaking 22 points from the final while PBKS displayed 243/5.
Iyer, who almost beaten for the whole sleeves of pbks, received praise for having placed the team before personal milestones. In the end, PBKS won the match by 11 points.
However, the former striker of India, Ambati Rayudu, had a cheeky vision of Iyer sacrificing his century. While speaking during a discussion on Espncricinfo, Rayudu said that the Iyer movement was “ unique and brilliant ”, especially since he played most of his centuries of career in Mumbai.
“Especially when coming from a Bombay striker, that’s a change. While growing up in Bombay, he didn’t hear 100, 100, 100, 100 in his head. So I think it’s a change, and it’s great to be honest,” said Rayudu.
Shashank, who struck five of his six four in the final on Mohammed Siraj and took a double to collect 23 points against the Pace in India, had revealed that Iyer had not asked him to rotate the strike.
“I did not see the dashboard, to be very honest. But after the first ball that I struck (for a four), I saw the dashboard and Shreyas was on 97,” Shashank told Tuesday, who scored a 16 ball 44, in The Media after the match.
“I didn’t say anything, he came only and said to me” Shashank don’t worry about my hundred “, because obviously I was going to tell him that I should give you one or something.
“It takes a lot of heart and courage to say because, of course, hundreds do not come easily in T20, especially in IPL,” he added.
Shashank said Ier’s message was to continue attacking the launcher.
“Shreyas told me ‘Shashank Go and try and try) to hit each ball for a limit for four or six’.
(With PTI entries)
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