Former India cricketer Ravi Shastri heaped praise on Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer for his selfless approach against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2025 season. However, the former Indian head coach’s remarks sparked speculation that he may have taken a subtle dig at veteran batter Virat Kohli.
Punjab Kings secured an 11-run victory over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, March 25. Shreyas Iyer scored an unbeaten 97 off 42 balls, featuring five fours and nine sixes. Punjab posted a massive total of 244 runs after being asked to bat first. The franchise then successfully defended the target.
Shreyas Iyer Falls Short of Maiden IPL Century
Shreyas Iyer was on 90 off 38 balls at the end of the 17th over, on the verge of his maiden IPL century after 117 matches. However, the PBKS skipper faced only four balls in the last three overs and remained unbeaten on 97. His teammate Shashank Singh smashed 44* runs off 16 balls at a strike rate of 275.
Shreyas had earlier struck three sixes in the 17th over, but Shashank dominated the final overs. He smashed two sixes and six fours, including five in the last over bowled by Mohammed Siraj. The 2014 IPL runners-up posted a massive total of 243/5, their second-highest total in the history of the tournament.
Did Ravi Shastri Take a Subtle Dig at Virat Kohli While Praising Shreyas Iyer?
During the innings break, Ravi Shastri asked Shashank Singh how he felt knowing that Shreyas Iyer was left stranded on 97. Shashank revealed that Iyer had told him to focus on finishing strong rather than worrying about his century.
“Let me be very honest, Shreyas from ball one told me, ‘Shashank, don’t think of my hundred. Just play your shots and finish it well.’ So, kudos to him, the way he spoke to me before the over,” Ravi Shastri said.
Ravi Shastri praised Iyer for his approach, stating, “That’s the right thing to say in a team game.” However, his remark was seen as a subtle dig at players who prioritize personal milestones over the team’s success. While Ravi Shastri didn’t name anyone directly, many speculated that his comments were aimed at Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli’s Old Video Resurfaces After Shashank Singh’s Comments
As soon as Shashank Singh revealed that Shreyas Iyer prioritized the team’s success over his personal milestone, old videos of Virat Kohli from an IPL 2019 match against KKR went viral on social media.
In that game, Kohli, batting on 96 with two balls remaining, signaled Marcus Stoinis to stay at the non-striker’s end instead of taking an easy double. He then reached his century with a boundary off the next delivery.
Do you know Virat Kohli asked for one run from Marcus Stoinis against KKR to complete his milestone 😂
Today you can guess what stoinis might be thinking about him with that smile.#GTvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/2uxaz2HdRB
— Aniket Kumar (@ImAniket264) March 25, 2025
Similar criticism had surfaced during the 2023 ODI World Cup when Kohli was accused of prioritizing his century over the team’s needs in a match against Bangladesh.
Also read: Watch- Ambati Rayudu targets Shreyas Iyer’s Mumbai roots despite a savage knock vs Gujarat Titans
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