Shreyas Iyer's IPL 2025 Mystery: Dominating Away, Struggling at Home

In the IPL 2025 season, Shreyas Iyer's performance has been a paradox. The Punjab Kings' captain has proven to be a force to reckon with on foreign grounds, but at his home base, the story is a lot different. While teams like Chennai Super Kings (CSK) failed to capitalize on their home advantage, Iyer's stark contrast of form has raised many eyebrows.

The Home Struggle Despite being the captain of Punjab Kings, Iyer has faced significant challenges at his home ground. In 4 matches played at home, his scores have been disappointing: 10, 9, 0, and 6. This is in stark contrast to his performances away, where he has truly shone. In fact, he has only managed to score 25 runs in 4 innings at home.

The 'Baahubali' Effect Away From Home However, outside of Punjab Kings' home ground, Iyer has been in exceptional form. He has scored over fifty runs in 4 out of 6 innings played away from home. His scores have been impressive: 97, 52, 82, 7, 25, and 72**. His 97* remains his highest score of the season, which he achieved outside Punjab's home ground.

Iyer's 72 runs in 41 balls against CSK on April 30 was a defining moment, as he led his team to a thrilling victory, chasing down CSK's target of 191 runs. His explosive strike rate of 175.60 showcased his full potential, helping Punjab Kings defeat CSK by 4 wickets in their own fortress.

A Strong Captaincy Performance Iyer’s captaincy also played a crucial role in Punjab Kings' victory, as he orchestrated the chase with a calm yet aggressive approach. Despite losing an early wicket, his innings held the innings together, ensuring his team reached the target successfully.

The Mystery of Home Ground Performance While Shreyas Iyer has been a "Barbary lion" away from home, his underwhelming performances at home remain puzzling. He has been able to score consistently in foreign grounds, contributing heavily to Punjab Kings’ success. The drastic difference in his batting form raises questions about what might be affecting his performances at home. It could be the pressure of captaincy or perhaps the crowd's expectations—only time will tell if he can turn his home form around.