In a dramatic turn of events at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally clinched their maiden IPL trophy in the 2025 final, defeating the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by a razor-thin margin of six runs. However, amidst the celebrations for RCB’s long-awaited triumph after 18 seasons, a storm of criticism has erupted, with former Indian cricketer Yograj Singh launching a blistering attack on PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer for what he termed a ‘criminal offence’ on the field.
The high-stakes clash saw RCB post a competitive 190/9 in their 20 overs, driven by a gritty 43 from Virat Kohli, a steady 26 from Rajat Patidar, and a late surge by Jitesh Sharma (24). Punjab Kings, in response, fought valiantly with Shashank Singh’s unbeaten 61 and Josh Inglis’ explosive 39, but a disciplined bowling performance led by Krunal Pandya (2/17) and RCB’s tight fielding kept PBKS at bay, finishing at 184/7.
The turning point of the match, however, was undeniably Shreyas Iyer’s reckless dismissal. Attempting an ill-advised shot off Romario Shepherd, the PBKS skipper was caught behind for a mere 1 run off 2 balls. This early exit in the chase of 191 triggered a collapse that Punjab could not recover from, despite Shashank’s heroic 22-run blitz in the final over. Speaking to ANI, Yograj Singh minced no words in his critique, stating, ‘The shot which Shreyas Iyer played in the final was a criminal offence, according to me. I recall Ashok Mankad once describing such a lapse as falling under Section 302—a punishable act. He even suggested a two-match ban for such recklessness. What Shreyas did is simply unacceptable. There is no apology for that.’
Iyer’s decision-making has drawn intense scrutiny, especially given the context of the IPL final—a stage where every run counts. Historical data backs up the significance of a captain’s contribution in crunch games; in the past decade, IPL finals have often been decided by narrow margins, with captains like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma playing pivotal roles in steering their teams to victory. Iyer’s failure to anchor the chase has thus raised questions about his temperament under pressure, especially as PBKS missed out on their second IPL title.
As RCB fans revel in their team’s historic victory, with Virat Kohli lifting the trophy after years of near-misses, the spotlight remains on Shreyas Iyer and Punjab Kings’ missed opportunity. Will Iyer bounce back from this criticism, or will Yograj Singh’s harsh words linger as a reminder of what could have been? Only time will tell, but for now, the IPL 2025 final will be remembered as much for RCB’s triumph as for the controversy surrounding a captain’s fateful shot.