Soon after the last ball of the penultimate over settled across the long-on boundary, after soaring high into the night sky of the majestic stadium in Ahmedabad, the camera panned to the man who actually launched this strike: Shreyas Iyer. Much to the dismay of the broadcasters, who were expecting nothing less than a wild, free-spirited display of emotions from the protagonist who delivered a scintillating conclusion of the contest, all they got was a man deep in his own channel of the universe, detached from the grandiosity of the occasion. Iyer took off his helmet, spit the chewing gum, hugged his batting partner Marcus Stoinis, and just continued with his stroll on the field.

But don't let his expression and gait fool you; it was anything but a quotidian occasion. It was a match between a team vying to reach their first final in eleven years and a team who have won this thing five times. Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians. The historical mismatch in the record did not faze Iyer though, who delivered one of the greatest hits of IPL knockouts, an unbeaten 87 off just 41 deliveries, to propel his team to the final.

He became the first captain in the history of the league to lead three teams into the final—Delhi Capitals in 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and Punjab Kings in 2025. He also became the first captain to reach the final with two different teams in successive seasons. Hold on, it's not over yet. He won it with Kolkata Knight Riders last year, and if Punjab Kings beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Tuesday (03 June), he will also become the only captain to win the title with two different teams.

But don't expect a wild celebration from Iyer if he indeed turns Punjab Kings, the perennial underachievers, into the champions team. There is already a precedence. When Kolkata won the title last year, amidst the sea of euphoria stood the only inscrutable face of Iyer, who felt like a man who was dragged into the vacation when there were a heap of deadlines to be taken care of. When Man's World asked him about his unperturbed demeanour after the final, something that even his mother and sister felt, Iyer said that the lack of euphoria was rooted in exhaustion after such an intense clash. "My mother asked, ‘Why aren’t you celebrating, why aren’t you happy?’ I was like I’ve already won this in my mind. I must’ve played out the moment 19-20 times," had said Iyer, during the cover shoot with this publication last year. "When it happened on the field, I was emotionless because I’d previously spent so much energy thinking about the game," he added.

When Iyer came to the crease on Sunday, Punjab Kings were precariously placed at 55-2, having lost both the openers and an early advantage through Josh Inglis, who struck off 20 runs off Bumrah's over. Soon, Inglis was dismissed, and the target started looking insurmountable for Punjab. Iyer, however, continued with his natural game before he decided to capitalise on Reece Topley, one of the weakest links in Mumbai's attack. Three slot balls from Topley were duly despatched over square-leg, long-on, and long-off, for a hat-trick of sixes. The target was still pretty far, but Iyer, with a terrifying display of stroke-making, made it clear that he was not going to blink until the job was done.

Bad balls were smacked over but even the good balls could not afflict any bad on Iyer. Two of the best balls delivered in the game, by Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, were met with a touch so subtle, a vision so refined, an execution so pristine, that bowlers were humbled into submission, that this is Iyer's day, and all they could do is to face his wrath. The shot against Bumrah, to the booming yorker, swinging 0.57 degrees, and that could have toppled most of the batter was the highlight of the day.

Is Iyer on the verge of greatness? Well, a visionary writer of this publication called it a year ago in the cover story that featured Iyer in all his glory, and it makes sense to read the excerpts of his interview, as the build-up to the IPL 2025 final.

How did you feel after the big IPL win?  

Shreyas Iyer: That night it stayed with me, but the next morning is when reality hit hard. We were just chilling by the pool and my phone was swamped with messages. Once I was back home, everything just went back to normal. The only thing I regret is that I couldn’t thank my teammates and the support staff individually in person. The hard work to get what we got was phenomenal. 

You didn’t react euphorically when you were crowned champions.  

SI: Even my mom and sister said the same thing. My sister was going crazy on the field. My mother asked, ‘Why aren’t you celebrating, why aren’t you happy?’ I was like I’ve already won this in my mind. I must’ve played out the moment 19-20 times. When it happened on the field, I was emotionless because I’d previously spent so much energy thinking about the game.

How do you handle pressure?  

SI: I see pressure as an opportunity. I feel butterflies in my tummy but also at the same time I know that the opposition feels the same. No one is invincible. But one thing I keep telling myself is that if you believe in yourself then anything is possible. That’s one thing I thrive on a lot. Challenges take me into a different zone. And when I’m in that zone, I function with blinders on.

What are you most proud of with yourself?  

SI: Having a strong sense of self-belief, no matter what situation I’m put into or the pressure the team is feeling at that given time. I try to stay as calm as possible and tell myself that we are going to win anyhow. The thought of losing never comes to my mind. 

Do you think people judge you negatively? 

SI: When people see me walking around, they think I have a lot of attitude. It’s just that I’m constantly with myself, in my head. I might just walk past you and won’t realise that you’re there because I’m thinking about something all the time. That’s where I get misunderstood at times. If you don’t know me personally then you would’ve said the same thing— ‘he has so much attitude, he is arrogant’. Unless and until you don’t speak to me, you wouldn’t know me. But it doesn’t hurt me. I turn a deaf ear to it. The best answer is in your mind, not in what people say. 

Are you an introvert? 

SI: I’m a bit reserved. But I have opened up a little. I feel that you should talk only when it’s required. Don’t give your input when it’s not needed. When you say something, you have to create an impact. If you’re not creating an impact, there’s no point in talking. 

Has that hurt you more recently? Not being vocal enough? 

SI: I feel at times, yes. This can be a bit controversial, but I’ll keep it subtle; I’ll just say that I like to stay in the present. Whatever’s been said or done by anyone in the past, I don’t like to dwell in those thoughts because then you get into a negative zone. I’m optimistic in my approach and my attitude is phenomenal when it comes to doing my work right. I just tick my boxes, be right in my preparations, keep looking forward to something new, and achieve greater goals. 

When’s the last time you cried? 

SI: Possibly while watching some emotional movie. Cricket wise, I remember when I was playing my 3rd or 4th Ranji Trophy game in Andhra Pradesh, I was batting in the nets and wasn’t scoring at all. A medium pacer was bowling, and I couldn’t time the ball. I was so frustrated. I started crying, thinking ‘What is happening? I can’t touch the ball’. Next innings I got 95. I’ve got this habit where if I don’t do well or am not feeling great, I see to it that I hit the gym or do something that will keep me busy. It’s not like a punishment, but it encourages me to become better.

What was your childhood like? 

SI: I came from a conservative South Indian background and went to an all-boys school. When I would see girls or women around me, I would run away from them. I used to think that they’re some sort of aliens and would do some magic on me or kidnap me. I think that helped me a lot in focussing on my work (laughs). Growing up I played every sport: cricket, football, hockey basketball, table tennis. There came a point where my dad forced me to get into one. And I got selected for both football and cricket. But then I’d gone to see Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Saurav Ganguly play. They inspired me. Also, my dad played cricket in college. That encouraged me to take it up as a sport. When I played in my society with my friends in [Adarsh Nagar in Worli] in Mumbai, I realised that I’m better than these guys. 

How did growing up in Mumbai shape your life? 

SI: I feel when you’re born and brought up in Mumbai, no matter how famous you are, there’s always someone who’s bigger than you. So, you remain humble and grounded from the start. That’s perhaps what’s kept me so low key and respectful towards everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a business tycoon or a labourer, my respect for you is the same. I know the hustle. You hustle to get to where you are at. You will get abused and criticised. But you learn how to handle things.  

Do you consider yourself to be a celebrity? 

SI: People around me say that you’re a celebrity now and you won’t have time for us. But I’ve always been the same. I never think of myself as a celebrity but I’m someone who likes to be alone. I’m a lone wolf. I stay alone at home; watch movies, or if my friends are around—who I love spending time with—play FIFA or poker with them. Basically, play anything that I can beat them at. 

Iyer’s manager Megh Adhvaryu chimes in. What’s Shreyas like as a friend? 

MA: He won’t shower you with affection. Sometimes he’s abusing you, pulling your leg. But when someone is going through a tough time, he’s always that one phone call away. He’ll sort you out. It could be materialistic or non-materialistic but he’s always there for his people. He has tight group of five friends. 

How different are you now from when you first started playing cricket?  

SI: I think there’s been a drastic change in my personality from a decade ago. When I was in the UK playing club cricket and living by myself, that’s when I realised the value of life: cooking, cleaning, and being alone. When I got into domestic cricket and the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team; Abhishek Nair was my roommate and he helped me a lot to grow as an individual outside of cricket. I get along better with people who are older than me. They aren’t cribbing all the time, saying this or that isn’t happening. That’s how I am today: Grateful.

Your personal style 

Simple yet elegant, with swagger. 

Your philosophy 

I apply what the NFL player [Deion Sanders] had once said, “If you look good, you feel good, if you feel good, you play good, if you play good, they pay good.”  

Best purchase 

The house I’m staying in Mumbai right now. 

Your greatest achievement?  

Winning the IPL! When you dream about achieving something great like winning it, it’s like silencing everything that has gone behind you. 

Five years from now… 

I want to win the highest number of championships and trophies ever. It’s my biggest motivation.