From Ball Boy to IPL Captain-The Rise of Shreyas Iyer from the Sidelines to the Limelight

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a nursery for budding talent, and few tales reveal its magic more than that of Shreyas Iyer. Before he became a household name in Indian cricket, guiding franchises such as Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders to victory, Iyer was an ordinary young boy with ambitious hopes. At the time of the first season of the IPL in 2008, he had the exclusive experience of serving as a ball boy for Wankhede Stadium. This was the starting point of his intangible attachment to the tournament that would go on to shape his career.

A Young Boy's Dream-IPL from the Best Seat in the House

Reminiscing about his early encounter with the IPL, Shreyas Iyer had a throwback moment while having an interview with JioHotstar's 'Superstars' show. Iyer, who grew up in Mumbai, had developed his cricketing talent playing street cricket before being selected into the city's Under-14 side. In connection with a special task, young Mumbai cricketers were selected to serve as ball boys for IPL games. It was a golden chance for an emerging cricketer to witness the excitement of the largest T20 league firsthand. For Iyer, it was to see legends of the sport from close to meters and experience the thumping atmosphere of the stadium.

His task as a ball boy took him to a high-tension match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Although he was shy at first and would not approach them, he watched his friends communicate with players and decided to try to do the same. He had a favorite player at that time, and that was New Zealand's Ross Taylor, who played for RCB. Mustering up his courage, Iyer went up to the explosive hitter and said, "Sir, I am a great admirer of yours." To his pleasure, Taylor was pleasant and grateful, thanking him for being a supporter. Though it is a tradition among young supporters to request players for autographs in the form of bats or gloves, Iyer lacked the courage to do so, but wished for it secretly.

A Brush with Stardom-Meeting Irfan Pathan and the Punjab Kings Team

Though his encounter with Ross Taylor was a memory for life, there was another memory which stood out in the case of Iyer, and that was meeting Punjab Kings' (formerly Kings XI Punjab) leading all-rounder Irfan Pathan. In the same match, Irfan was standing at long-on and subsequently sat beside the ball boys and was chatting with them like an old friend. Iyer could remember how un-worldly it seemed to be talking to an international player whom he had admired from a distance.

"He inquired about whether we were having a good time watching the match, and we eagerly explained to him how wonderful the experience was. Irfan bhai was a big name in Indian cricket at that point in time. Punjab had some of the most favorite players, Yuvi pa (Yuvraj Singh) being one of them, and they were all extremely charismatic. It was a memory I will never forget," Iyer recollected.

That 2008 season, which he witnessed from the sidelines, planted a dream in Iyer’s heart—to one day be on the field, not as a ball boy but as a player leading his team to victory. Fast forward to 2015, he made his IPL debut with Delhi Capitals and had an immediate impact. In his first season itself, he exposed his great talent, scoring 439 runs in 14 games at an excellent average of 33.77, including four half-centuries. His brilliant performance helped him win the 'Emerging Player' award, marking the coming of a superstar.

By 2018, he had been made the captain of Delhi Capitals, and he bore the responsibility with great confidence. Under his captaincy, Delhi reached the 2020 finals, where they played against Mumbai Indians. Although they lost the trophy, Iyer's captaincy was universally acclaimed. His IPL career changed direction again in 2022 when he shifted to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The career highlight came in 2024 when he guided KKR to their first IPL title in ten years, with the guidance of Gautam Gambhir.

A New Beginning at Punjab Kings

Iyer is scheduled to go out on a new mission for the 2025 season, as captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS). With the eye on taking the field against Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 25, the stakes are high. Punjab Kings have been a team of promise all along but have failed to win the much-sought title. With Iyer leading them, they aim to break that jinx and make a strong run for their first-ever IPL title.

Shreyas Iyer's rags-to-riches story is a living proof of how dreams come a full circle. From being an awe-struck teenager looking up at cricketers from the boundary ropes to leading some of the largest franchises of IPL, his life is an inspiration in itself. The lad who had hesitated to pick up a bat from his icon is today one of the biggest stars of Indian cricket, making millions of aspiring young minds yearn to emulate him.

His ascension in the IPL is not only a matter of talent but also of grit, perseverance, and the conviction that no dream is too large. As he takes to the field in IPL 2025, he does so not only as a cricketer but as a beacon of hope for every young cricketer in the stands—just like he used to be.