IPL 2025: Why was Shreyas Iyer substituted in match between RR vs PBKS?

Match number 59 of the IPL 2025 has all the elements a cricket fan wishes to watch live. The wavelength of the match is shifting gears in every over to stun the cricket fans. After a lackluster start in the first innings, Punjab Kings (PBKS) held their nerve and finished at 219 in exchange for 5 wickets when the first 20 overs concluded.

Shreyas Iyer, the skipper of PBKS, suddenly subbed off from the field before the second over began, and Shashank Singh became the stand-in captain. Fans are curious to know why Iyer was off the field when Rajasthan Royals (RR) openers hammered PBKS bowlers for fun.

As per some claims in media reports, Shreyas may have had some problems with his finger; for this reason, the team management decided to put him out of the field. PBKS has high hopes for a playoff spot with Shreyas Iyer leading the side, so the team needs to protect their star player and captain.

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Without the regular captain and Singh as the stand-in leader, PBKS was struggling deep against the two RR openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Both of the batters were dealing with only boundaries and over-boundaries and looking out most to stop until Harpreet Brar joined the party and took wickets of Jaiswal and Suryavanshi to slow down RR's rampage. 

Thus Punjab Kings stood up and delivered

The star Indian batter played an impactful innings when the team was struggling with 3 wickets down. Iyer's 30 off 25, with a sensational Nehal Wadhera, who scored 70 against 37 balls, carried out the team from danger.

In the later part of the first innings, Singh was on song, playing 30 to record an unbeaten 59-run innings. Thus, Punjab Kings, despite a sluggish start, managed to recover and put 219 on the scoreboard against Rajasthan Royals.