IPL 2025: Why Shreyas Iyer got angry and cried during Champions Trophy in Dubai

Shreyas Iyer stood at the nets in Dubai, his bat in hand and frustration in his chest. It wasn’t a bad day — it was a breakdown. The 26-year-old, fresh off a solid series against England, had expected to pick up where he left off. Instead, he found himself fighting the pitch, his timing and, most surprisingly, his emotions.

“I was literally crying,” he later revealed. “I don’t cry easily.”

Shreyas Iyer, speaking on an episode of Kandid with Kings, was responding to actress Sahiba Bali’s question about the last time he cried. The Champions Trophy, it turned out, had started with anything but joy.

“I was batting in the nets and was not able to bat properly. I got so angry at myself that I started to cry. I was also shocked because I don’t cry easily,” he said.

Despite coming off strong performances against England, the transition to UAE conditions proved tougher than expected.

“I thought I would carry the same flow with me, but the wickets were different and to adapt on the first day itself was an arduous task,” Shreyas Iyer said. “When the practice ended, I wanted to practice a little extra and I did not get the chance to do it, so I got angry.”

His start reflected the struggle — just 15 runs against Bangladesh — but that was only the beginning. Iyer recovered to finish as India’s top run-scorer with 243 runs in five matches. He struck consecutive fifties against Pakistan and New Zealand, and added a composed 48 in the final to help seal the title.

Back in IPL colours, Iyer has continued his fine form, this time for Punjab Kings. Chasing their elusive maiden title, the franchise made headlines at the 2025 mega auction by snapping him up for a record Rs267.5 million — and handing him the captaincy.

India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, also part of the Punjab set-up, praised Iyer’s leadership style and calm demeanour.

“We have a great friendship. We’ve also played together for India, and off the field, he’s a really good friend of mine,” Chahal told IANS during the JioHotstar Press Room with Punjab Kings. “He’s very calm. Even if the opposition is creating pressure, he doesn’t panic. As a bowler, you look at your skipper, and you get everything you need.”

Chahal also highlighted Iyer’s ability to connect with the whole squad — not just the seniors.

“The best thing is that he listens to everyone’s advice. It’s not like he doesn’t take input from junior players. He is very open-minded. We are really enjoying his captaincy,” he said.

Shreyas Iyer’s IPL record is solid: 3,286 runs in 119 innings. His most prolific season came in 2020, when he amassed 519 runs, and he later led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title with 351 runs at a strike rate of 146.86.

From tears in the practice nets to becoming the emotional and tactical core of two major teams, Shreyas Iyer’s story this year is not just about runs — it’s about resilience.