NEW DELHI: Trophies and Shreyas Iyer have gone hand in hand throughout 2024, marking a remarkable year for the star batter and captain. The trend began with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he led the team to their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title since 2014. KKR had previously won two titles under Gautam Gambhir, in 2012 and 2014, but after a long wait, Iyer led the run to a third title in style.
Now, Iyer has added another prestigious title to his captaincy portfolio. Under his leadership, Mumbai won the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) on Sunday, clinching their second SMAT title by defeating Madhya Pradesh in the final of the domestic T20 competition by five wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
But Iyer’s success hasn’t been without challenges.
The Mumbaikar faced hurdles, disappointments and setbacks, yet he dealt with each blow gracefully, continuing his dominance on the field.
NO CENTRAL CONTRACT
Iyer’s year began on a rough note when he was dropped from India’s playing XI after a lackluster run in the first two Tests against England. He was later excluded from the list of BCCI’s annual contracts after he didn’t make himself available for the domestic competition while not on national duty.
Despite the exclusion, Iyer remained unfazed, bouncing back in style as India’s third-highest run-scorer in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, refusing to be bogged down by setbacks.
AN IPL TO REMEMBER FOR KKR
Just two months after being excluded from the BCCI contracts, Iyer returned to the IPL with renewed determination, captaining KKR, who had not won the title since 2014.
Under Iyer’s leadership, KKR won 9 out of 14 matches, securing a spot in the playoffs.
KKR made it to the final for the fourth time in IPL history, where they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in a low-scoring contest to lift their third trophy.
As a captain, Iyer shone with the bat as well, scoring 351 runs in 15 matches at an average of 39.00. This marked his first trophy of the year.
IYER’S RED-BALL SHOW
Iyer also proved his mettle in red-ball cricket.
After playing just two Tests earlier in the year, Iyer returned to the Ranji Trophy with a bang. Under Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership, Iyer showcased his ability across all formats, amassing 452 runs at an average of 90.40 in four matches.
He is currently Mumbai’s highest run-scorer in the ongoing season, with two centuries to his name.
IYER’S SMAT DOMINATION
Switching formats seamlessly, Iyer continued his excellent form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Tournament.
After leading KKR to IPL glory, Iyer captained Mumbai, dominating with the both and as a leader.
He scored 345 runs in 9 matches at an average of 49.28, with a strike rate of 188.52, including a century and a half-century.
Mumbai won five of their six league games and secured 20 points to progress to the knockouts. They triumphed over Vidarbha in the quarterfinals and Baroda in the semifinals to set up a final against Madhya Pradesh, where Iyer’s men won by five wickets to lift the coveted trophy.
This was Mumbai’s second SMAT title, having previously won it in 2022.
Additionally, Iyer was also part of the Mumbai team that won the Irani Cup under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy, marking Mumbai’s first win in the competition after 27 years.
IYER’S NEW JOURNEY
Following his release by KKR before the IPL auction, Iyer became one of the first marquee players to go under the hammer at the IPL 2025 auction. KKR initially bid for their title-winning captain but pulled out at Rs 10 crore.
This led to a bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, with Punjab emerging victorious by acquiring Iyer for a mammoth Rs 26.75 crore.
It is likely that Iyer will lead Punjab Kings this season, and the team, which has never won an IPL title since the tournament’s inception in 2008, will be looking to break their drought under their new, talismanic captain.
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