IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer ‘Excited’ To Play In Mullanpur, Praises Punjab’s ‘Pind’ And Food Variety”

April 5, 2025: Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer recently shared his thoughts ahead of the team’s highly anticipated first home game in IPL 2025 against Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Speaking to the official IPL website, Iyer expressed his appreciation for the “cordial” nature of the people in Punjab and praised the state’s food variety. Describing his experience in Punjab, Iyer referred to it as a “pind” (a Punjabi word for village), highlighting the warm and welcoming atmosphere that greeted him.

PBKS, after two impressive away wins against Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), will look to maintain their winning momentum in front of their home crowd. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, are currently in the ninth spot with just one win from their three matches.

Iyer emphasized the positive mood in the PBKS camp, noting that each player has contributed and embraced their roles fully. “We are off to a great start. The boys are in high spirits, and we are sharing a lot of joy around the team. It’s important to keep the camaraderie going,” said Iyer.

The PBKS skipper also spoke fondly of his relationship with head coach Ricky Ponting, calling their bonding “magnificent.” Their connection, which dates back to their time together at Delhi Capitals, has proven beneficial for the team. “Ricky Ponting is a masterclass when it comes to sharing ideas and giving inputs. He has immense experience in strategizing things. All these little inputs matter in the game,” Iyer added.

When asked about his approach to playing, Iyer emphasized the importance of focusing on the present and striving for success. “I focus on winning, and I want to lift the trophy. I keep embracing the moment,” he said.

Squads:

Rajasthan Royals (RR):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c/w), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Shubham Dubey, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kunal Singh Rathore, Kumar Kartikeya, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kwena Maphaka, Ashok Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Akash Madhwal.

Punjab Kings (PBKS):
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (w), Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Praveen Dubey, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Vishnu Vinod, Harpreet Brar, Josh Inglis, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kuldeep Sen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash.