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Shreyas Iyer, one of India’s trusted middle-order batters and the current captain of Punjab Kings in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, revealed a rare and deeply emotional moment that took place before the start of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Shreyas Iyer’s emotional moment
In a heartfelt conversation on PBKS official show, Iyer admitted that he broke down in tears during the very first net session of the tournament.
“The last time I cried was during Champions Trophy, in the first practice session. Like literally crying, crying. Because I batted in the nets, and it didn’t go well. I was so angry with myself that I started crying. And I was also shocked at the fact that I don’t cry that easily,” Iyer confessed.
However, what followed was a testament to Shreyas Iyer’s grit and mental strength. Using the emotional setback as fuel, Iyer quickly adapted to the playing conditions and recalibrated his mindset. He emerged as a pivotal figure in India’s middle order during the tournament. His ability to anchor the innings, rotate the strike, and build crucial partnerships proved vital to India’s campaign. In the high-stakes final, Iyer played a gritty knock of 48 off 62 deliveries – a performance that helped India steady the ship in the middle overs and lay the foundation for a title-winning total.
Also READ: IPL 2025: Punjab Kings star batter Shashank Singh opens up to Sahiba Bali on leaving Mumbai cricket
Social media storm: The viral moment with influencer Sahiba Bali
Away from the cricket pitch, Iyer found himself in the middle of a social media frenzy due to a promotional video featuring well-known content creator Sahiba Bali. Hired by PBKS as part of their digital engagement strategy, Sahiba appeared alongside Iyer in a casual Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) clip.
The two were seen stepping out of a vehicle, engaging in a light chat that included a discussion about Iyer’s tattoos. However, the mood shifted abruptly when Iyer, without much warning, walked away mid-conversation, stating, “I have to go to the gym,” Caught off guard, Sahiba responded with a surprised and playful, “Very rude, very rude,”. While some viewers dismissed it as harmless banter, others criticized Iyer for what appeared to be dismissive behavior. The clip went viral, with social media users split over whether the moment was scripted for laughs or revealed an unflattering side of the cricketer.
Here’s the video:
Sahiba & Shreyas act like proper husband & wife with each other😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/zMVuQ170cN
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) April 7, 2025
IPL 2025 setback: PBKS suffer big defeat under Iyer’s captaincy
Just like Iyer’s Champions Trophy campaign ended on a high, the start to his IPL 2025 stint as Punjab Kings captain has been great so far also with win in first two games. However in their recent outing, PBKS faced a crushing 50-run defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals in Mullanpur. Chasing a challenging target of 206 runs, the Punjab batting lineup faltered under pressure and failed to stitch together meaningful partnerships. Despite boasting powerful names and a solid domestic core, the team’s inability to handle scoreboard costed them the game Iyer, who had shown such tactical brilliance for India, was visibly frustrated after the match as Punjab’s campaign suffered its first major jolt.
