Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has lauded Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer as the most “improved” batsman in recent times, asserting that he is “ready” for all formats of the game. Ganguly’s endorsement comes after Iyer’s impressive transformation over the past year, particularly following a challenging period when he was left out of the BCCI’s central contract list for 2023-24.

Determined to reclaim his spot, Shreyas returned to India’s domestic circuit, where he devoted himself to intense training and practice. This dedication paid off as he made a strong comeback to international cricket, exuding a new level of confidence and self-assurance.

In the ongoing IPL 2025, Shreyas has continued to showcase his talents on the field. In a gripping match against the Gujarat Titans, he illuminated the game with an extraordinary performance, scoring an unbeaten 97 runs in the first innings. His knock was crucial in leading the Punjab Kings to a commanding total that ultimately secured their victory over the Titans.

Shreyas’s stellar display highlights his evolution as a batsman. Despite previously struggling with short-length deliveries—a challenge that haunted him—he has now transformed this once-difficult aspect of his game into a strength.

Ganguly, eager to share his excitement about Iyer’s progress, took to the social media platform X to express his thoughts: “Shreyas Iyer has emerged as the most improved batsman in the last year… ready for all formats. It’s fantastic to witness his growth after overcoming certain challenges with his technique.”

In this particular match, Shreyas demonstrated not only his batting prowess but also his selflessness. As fatigue began to set in, he willingly sacrificed the opportunity for a personal milestone to empower his teammate Shashank Singh in the final overs. Singh capitalized on the chance, striking five boundaries that helped propel PBKS to a formidable total of 243 for 5. The Titans, unable to chase down the target, succumbed to a narrow 11-run defeat.

Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 97 encapsulates the hard work and determination he has displayed throughout the past year, marking him as a player to watch in the future.

The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League has kicked off with explosive batting displays, leaving little room for bowlers to make an impact. Amid the growing trend of high-scoring thrillers, entrepreneur Anupam Mittal voiced his criticism in a sarcastic post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

“Everything is a wide, no, 4 or 6 #IPL should just replace bowlers with bowling-machines,” he posted, reflecting the growing frustration among fans witnessing the one-sided dominance of batters.

While many fans continue to enjoy the six-hitting spectacles, a section of the cricketing community, including Mittal, feels the lack of balance between bat and ball is hurting the essence of T20 cricket. His post quickly gained attention online, sparking a debate about the changing dynamics of the game.

The recent match between Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings further proved the point. In a run-fest where Punjab posted a mammoth 243 runs and GT nearly chased it down, the match witnessed over 450 runs with only 10 wickets falling. Except for GT’s R Sai Kishore, who bowled an impressive spell of 3/30, no other bowler managed to keep their economy under nine runs per over.

Before this, in a high scoring game against Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) began their campaign with a statement victory. SRH’s batting lineup unleashed a torrent of runs, setting the tone for what promises to be an electrifying season.

The sheer dominance of batters in IPL 2025 has brought the role of bowlers under scrutiny, with fans and cricket pundits alike questioning the direction modern T20 cricket is heading.

Who is Anupam Mittal

Anupam Mittal is an Indian entrepreneur, investor, and business leader best known as the founder and CEO of People Group, which owns several well-known platforms including Shaadi.com. He is also widely recognized as one of the investoors of Shark Tank India

Afghanistan’s star spinner, Rashid Khan, has shattered the record previously held by India’s ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, becoming the third-fastest player to claim 150 wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Rashid achieved this milestone in the opening match of the season while playing for the Gujarat Titans against the Punjab Kings. Despite his team facing a narrow 11-run defeat and Rashid only taking one wicket, he surpassed Bumrah to secure his place among the fastest bowlers to reach 150 wickets in this lucrative tournament.

Rashid’s incredible record now stands at 150 wickets from 122 matches, trailing only behind Yuzvendra Chahal (118) and Lasith Malinga (105). Notably, Rashid reached the 150-wicket mark in two fewer matches than Bumrah, who took 124 games. Beyond merely taking wickets, Rashid’s performance showcases his exceptional bowling skill; only Malinga boasts a better bowling average (19.79 compared to Rashid’s 22.00), and Sunil Narine is the sole player with a superior economy rate (6.73 versus Rashid’s 6.83) in this elite group of wicket-takers.

At just 26 years old, Rashid has flourished in the IPL, effectively utilizing his legbreak googly to outsmart batsmen. However, during the match against the Punjab Kings on a batting-friendly pitch in Ahmedabad, he struggled to maintain his usual economical style. In his four overs, he conceded 48 runs, resulting in an economy rate of 12.00 while grabbing the lone wicket of debutant Priyansh Arya.

The Kings had a commanding start, accumulating runs at a swift pace of over 12 per over after the powerplay. With the Titans needing a break in the momentum, captain Shubman Gill turned to Rashid. He managed to entice Priyansh into an ill-timed shot with a well-tossed delivery that lacked the necessary bounce and turn. This resulted in a high top edge that was comfortably caught by Sai Sudharsan, dismissing Priyansh for a quickfire 47 runs off just 23 balls.

That wicket was Rashid’s only bright spot in an otherwise difficult outing. The Punjab Kings surged to a daunting total of 243/5, propelled by captain Shreyas Iyer’s explosive unbeaten 97 and Shashank Singh’s contribution of 44 runs. In response, the Titans showed some resilience but ultimately fell short of the target, finishing just 11 runs behind.