Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their IPL 2024 title victory, has been named the captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the 2025 season. Iyer was bought for a record Rs 26.75 crore during the November mega auction, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history.
This appointment reunites Iyer with PBKS’s head coach Ricky Ponting, who had previously mentored him while he captained Delhi Capitals to the IPL 2020 final. Iyer’s leadership appointment reflects PBKS’s ambitious push for the title in 2025.
So far, six teams have confirmed their captains for the upcoming season, while four franchises, including KKR, have yet to reveal their leadership plans. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Delhi Capitals (DC) have yet to announce their captains.
KKR is currently looking for a new captain after Iyer’s departure, and with RCB releasing Faf du Plessis, there is speculation that Virat Kohli could return as their captain. Lucknow Super Giants, after signing Rishabh Pant for Rs 27 crore, may offer him the leadership role after releasing KL Rahul, who moved to DC.
Captains Confirmed for IPL 2025:
- Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (retained as captain).
- Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (retained as captain).
- Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (retained as captain).
- Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer (replaces Shikhar Dhawan).
- Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (retained as captain).
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (retained as captain).
Captains Yet to Be Announced:
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Searching for Shreyas Iyer’s replacement.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis released; speculation about Virat Kohli returning as captain.
- Lucknow Super Giants: Likely to appoint Rishabh Pant after signing him for Rs 27 crore.
- Delhi Capitals: Leadership undecided after acquiring KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis.
As the teams gear up for IPL 2025, announcements on remaining captains are expected soon.
