Home
'Backstabbing' is the word Shreyas Iyer chose to describe his feelings after he lost his second title in a span of just 10 days. Following his team SoBo Mumbai Falcons' loss to Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals in the Mumbai T20 League title decider at the Wankhede Stadium on June 12, Shreyas Iyer refrained from singling out any individual players or errors. Instead, speaking after the match , he acknowledged the inherent pressure of playing in significant clashes before large audiences, which can often lead to mistakes. However, Iyer voiced his support for his teammates, expressing confidence in their ability to learn from the experience and return stronger in the following year's competition.
Shreyas Iyer heartbroken after losing second consecutive title in 10 days
In the title clash, Shreyas Iyer himself was dismissed for 12 runs off 17 deliveries, contributing to the Falcons' somewhat below-par total of 157 runs for the loss of four wickets in their first innings. In response, a composed innings of 53 from Chinmay Rajesh Sutar and a quickfire 38 from Awais Khan Naushad guided the Maratha Royals to victory in the final over, with five wickets in hand. This defeat marked Shreyas Iyer's second loss in a final in the same season, having previously finished as the runner-up with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025, where they were defeated by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
“It’s pretty hectic (two finals in 10 days). Especially when you lose, it runs in your mind a lot. The way everyone turned up in numbers was outstanding to see. The whole stadium was electrifying. Thank you so much for coming and supporting (to the fans)," Shreyas said after the match, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
“Don’t want to pinpoint any particular incident. Overall the boys were brilliant with their efforts. We just lost one game on the way to the final. Just a one-off game where you can’t pinpoint on anyone – it’s basically backstabbing and I don’t enjoy that. We have learnt a lot. Pretty common to feel dejected after losing the final. It must hurt them. When they come back next year they would be having that motivation and confidence. They should be proud of their efforts. They came in here, not too much experience and playing in front of 20000 people – it’s not easy. I’ve been there, done that. When the nerves get into you, you tend to make mistakes but it teaches you a lot and you come back stronger," he added.
These consecutive final defeats stand in stark contrast to Shreyas Iyer's remarkable success in the preceding two years. During this period, he experienced a trophy-laden spell, securing titles in several significant tournaments. In the past, he has been a key figure in numerous triumphs, including being part of a Ranji Trophy-winning Mumbai team and playing a vital role in India's Irani Cup victory. Furthermore, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership, captaining the Kolkata Knight Riders to a memorable IPL title in 2024 and also leading his state team to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His decorated resume also includes being a member of the Indian squad that secured the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
