Job only half done, says Shreyas Iyer ahead of final

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer shifts focus to IPL final after guiding team to victory over Mumbai Indians.

After securing the win against Mumbai Indians in the IPL Qualifier 2 here on Sunday, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer walked off without much celebration. Shreyas, who played out of his skin to guide PBKS home, shifted his focus immediately to the next task — the grand final on Tuesday.

“After the win over Mumbai, I felt like my job was only half done. The job is not yet finished. We have a match on Tuesday, and I have to come back to play tomorrow. So I was thinking that recovery is important, and how to prepare myself,” Shreyas said in a press conference here on Monday.

The 30-year-old rated the unbeaten 87 as his best-ever T20 knock. “To win any match for your team is the best feeling in the world. Yes, given the pressure occasion, I would rate this as the best innings I have played,” Shreyas said.

Shreyas’ stint showed his tough as nails character, given that his team was routed by RCB just a few days earlier in Qualifier 1. “I love to play according to the situation, and not get too much ahead of the game. I want to see to it that I take the game to the end,” Shreyas said.

On Tuesday, PBKS will depend heavily on experienced leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has returned from a wrist injury. Chahal may not be 100 per cent fit, but he is an invaluable asset. “Chahal is a very experienced bowler. He has played a lot of big matches. He is lethal,” Shreyas said.

Having started the IPL 2025 campaign with a win over Gujarat Titans here, the city of Ahmedabad has been kind to PBKS. To cap it off with the trophy will be the dream end to the script. “We have been consistent this season. And it all started here in Ahmedabad. Now we are in the final. I am very excited,” Shreyas said.