Punjab Kings (PBKS) have officially confirmed Shreyas Iyer as their new captain for the upcoming 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This follows their aggressive bid in the mega auction, where they secured the 30-year-old star for an astounding Rs. 26.75 crore. 

Iyer's acquisition makes him the second-most expensive player in IPL history, just behind Rishabh Pant, who was sold to Lucknow Super Giants for Rs. 27 crore in the same auction. 

This duo's record-breaking purchases have eclipsed Mitchell Starc's previous record, making them the highest-paid players in the league's history.

Shreyas Iyer is set to carve out a unique place in IPL history by becoming the first Indian player to captain three different franchises. The 2024 IPL-winning captain has previously led Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

His appointment as PBKS captain positions him alongside elite players like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Steve Smith, who have each led three different IPL teams. Among them, Iyer is only the second Indian, after Sangakkara, to be named a full-time skipper for three franchises. 

Sangakkara's leadership journey included stints with PBKS (2010), Deccan Chargers (2012), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013). Jayawardene captained PBKS for one match in 2010 before taking on full-time roles with Kochi Tuskers (2011) and DC (2013), while Steve Smith led Pune Warriors, Rising Pune Super Giants, and Rajasthan Royals at various points in his career.

What sets Iyer apart is his distinction as the only IPL-winning captain to be released by his franchise in the season following their title victory. 

In 2020, he led DC to their first-ever IPL final, where they fell to Mumbai Indians, before guiding KKR to a triumphant win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2024 IPL final. This achievement shows his capability as a leader, as he is the only captain in IPL history to lead two different teams to the final.

In the 2025 season, Iyer will have the opportunity to make even more history by becoming the first captain to win IPL titles with two different teams. Hardik Pandya, the only other captain with a similar chance in 2025, will also vie for this rare accomplishment. PBKS, under Iyer's leadership, will aim to end their 17-year wait for an IPL title.

Shreyas Iyer will be the 17th player to lead PBKS and the 12th full-time captain, following in the footsteps of prominent figures like Yuvraj Singh, Kumar Sangakkara, Adam Gilchrist, George Bailey, David Miller, Murli Vijay, Glenn Maxwell, Ravichandran Ashwin, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, and Shikhar Dhawan. With a long list of captains, PBKS joins Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad as the only franchises to have been led by more than 10 captains in IPL history.