Yograj Singh Slams Shreyas Iyer’s Dismissal in IPL 2025 Final

Shreyas Iyer’s unfortunate dismissal in the IPL 2025 final has drawn sharp criticism from former India cricketer Yograj Singh. In the high-pressure final against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Iyer’s lazy shot, which led to his dismissal for just 1 run off 2 balls, came at a crucial juncture of the match. His wicket, caught behind by Jitesh Sharma off Romario Shepherd’s delivery, allowed RCB to claw their way back into the contest and put Punjab Kings (PBKS) under pressure.

Yograj Singh Calls Iyer’s Shot a “Criminal Offence”

Yograj Singh did not mince words when discussing Iyer’s dismissal. The former cricketer went as far as calling the shot a “criminal offence,” something that shouldn’t have happened at such a crucial moment in the final. Singh drew a comparison to legendary cricketer Ashok Mankad’s advice about such mistakes, referring to it in a somewhat exaggerated manner as “Section 302” of cricket offenses. He stated, “There shouldn’t be any apology for what happened. What Shreyas did yesterday is simply unacceptable.”

Iyer, fresh from a match-winning 87* off 41 balls in the Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI), was expected to carry his form into the final. His wicket at that point was a massive blow to Punjab Kings’ chances of winning the match. Iyer’s dismissal highlighted the immense pressure that players are under in big finals, and how one bad shot can shift the momentum completely.

Punjab Kings’ Struggle After Iyer’s Dismissal

Following Iyer’s dismissal, the responsibility to steer Punjab to a competitive total fell to Shashank Singh, who gave a strong fight with a knock of 61* off 30 balls. Despite his resilience, Singh’s efforts weren’t enough, as Punjab fell short by just seven runs in the final.

RCB’s bowlers, led by Krunal Pandya (2/17) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/38), played a key role in restricting Punjab’s chase. Pandya, in particular, was brilliant with the ball and was awarded Player of the Match for his performance, which helped RCB defend their total of 190/9.

RCB Sets a Challenging Total

Earlier in the game, RCB had posted a challenging total of 190/9 in their 20 overs. Virat Kohli top-scored with 43 runs off 35 balls, and Jitesh Sharma added a quick cameo of 24 runs off just 10 balls. The partnership between Kohli and Sharma, along with some lower-order resistance, ensured that RCB set a total that would prove to be difficult for Punjab to chase. Arshdeep Singh (3/40) and Kyle Jamieson (3/48) were the pick of the bowlers for Punjab, taking three wickets each, but their efforts were not enough to prevent RCB from sealing their victory.

The IPL 2025 final will be remembered not just for RCB’s historic win but also for the pressure-packed moments and the crucial mistakes that shaped the outcome of the match. Shreyas Iyer’s untimely dismissal will undoubtedly be a talking point for Punjab Kings, who will have to regroup for the next season.