Shreyas Iyer Cricket Career Explained

Shreyas Iyer is India's established number four batter — a right-handed middle-order player known for his elegant, front-foot style of play. Born on 6 December 1994 in Mumbai, he captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title, then moved to Punjab Kings as their captain from IPL 2025 after being bought for ₹26.75 crore at the mega-auction.

IPL 2024 Title — KKR Captain

Shreyas Iyer captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title — a magnificent achievement in his debut season with the franchise. KKR played attractive, aggressive cricket under his leadership, winning matches with a combination of top-order power and bowling variety. After the title win, Iyer was released by KKR at the November 2024 mega-auction and signed by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore as their new captain from IPL 2025.

Batting Style

Iyer is an elegant right-handed batter who predominantly plays off the front foot. He drives beautifully through the off side and mid-on, and his ability to play spin on the move makes him particularly dangerous on Indian pitches. However, a perceived weakness against short-pitched bowling outside off stump has been targeted by opposition bowlers in Test cricket.

Test Career

Iyer has had a mixed Test cricket career — outstanding in India but facing more challenges abroad where pace bowlers have targeted him with the short ball. Nevertheless, his first Test century against New Zealand in Kanpur showed his quality at the highest level.