Shreyas Iyer tastes history during GT vs PBKS IPL 2025 clash, becomes first ever skipper to bag this mega milestone
Shreyas Iyer marked his debut as captain of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in spectacular fashion, etching his name into the Indian Premier League (IPL) record books.
Shreyas Iyer's captaincy debut for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) couldn't have been scripted better. The team, who have reached the IPL final once before, kicked off their season with a thrilling 11-run victory over the Gujarat Titans in a high-scoring encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, March 25. Iyer himself was the star of the show, earning the Player of the Match award for his explosive innings of 97 runs off just 42 balls, which featured five fours and nine sixes, all achieved at a blistering strike rate of 230.95.
This match etched a unique chapter in IPL history, marking Shreyas Iyer as the first captain to lead a different franchise in the season immediately following an IPL title win. The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper also joins an elite group, becoming only the fifth player and the second Indian to have captained three different IPL teams. Prior to leading Punjab, Shreyas also helmed the Delhi Capitals from midway through the 2018 season until the 2020 campaign.
Interestingly, Shreyas Iyer and Kumar Sangakkara stand out as the only captains who were appointed as full-time skippers for all three of the IPL franchises they led. In contrast, Mahela Jayawardene only captained Punjab Kings for a single match. Similarly, both Steve Smith and Ajinkya Rahane each led the Pune Warriors and Rising Pune Supergiant for just one game apiece.
Players to captain three teams in IPL history:
| Player | Teams |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Punjab Kings (PBKS), Deccan Chargers (DCH), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) |
| Mahela Jayawadene | Punjab Kings (PBKS), Kochi Tuskers (KT), Delhi Capitals (DC) |
| Steve Smith | Pune Warriors India (PWI), Rising Pune Supergiant (RPSG), Rajasthan Royals (RR) |
| Ajinkya Rahane | Rising Pune Supergiant (RPSG), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) |
| Shreyas Iyer | Delhi Capitals (DC), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Punjab Kings (PBKS) |
Among the ten franchises currently competing in the IPL, Shreyas Iyer holds the distinction of being the only captain to have led three different teams.
Shreyas Iyer's winning start with PBKS in their opening match of the 2025 IPL has cemented his place in the record books. He now holds the unique record of being the first player in IPL history to secure a win in his captaincy debut for three different franchises. Earlier in his career, his captaincy debut for the Delhi Capitals saw them register a commanding 55-run win against KKR. Subsequently, in his first match as captain for KKR in 2022, the team triumphed over Chennai Super Kings by six wickets.
