Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings suffered a heartbreaking defeat by six runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 final played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (June 3). The Mohali-based franchise failed to chase down the target of 191 runs set by Rajat Patidar & Co. in front of more than 90,000 fans present at the world’s biggest cricket stadium. PBKS fans had high hopes from Iyer, who hammered unbeaten 97 and 87 runs in the two IPL 2025 matches played at Narendra Modi Stadium, but on the night of the final, the 30-year-old right-handed batter from Mumbai got out for 1 run from two balls. PBKS’ defeat in the final of IPL 2025 entered Iyer’s name in a forgetful list. He became only the second captain in the world after MS Dhoni to lose multiple IPL finals. Dhoni lost the IPL final with CSK in 2008 against the Rajasthan Royals, in 2012 against the Kolkata Knight Riders and three times (in 2013, 2015 and 2019) against the Mumbai Indians. Captains to lose IPL final MS Dhoni – Chennai Super Kings (2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019) Anil Kumble – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2009) Sachin Tendulkar – Mumbai Indians (2010) Daniel Vettori – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2011) George Bailey – Punjab Kings (2014) Virat Kohli – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2016) Steve Smith – Rising Pune Supergiants (2017) Kane Williamson – Sunrisers Hyderabad (2018) Shreyas Iyer – Delhi Capitals (2020), Punjab Kings (2025) Eoin Morgan – Kolkata Knight Riders (2021) Sanju Samson – Rajasthan Royals (2022) Hardik Pandya – Gujarat Titans (2023) Pat Cummins – Sunrisers Hyderabad (2024) Iyer, who is the second most expensive player in IPL history, lost the IPL 2020 final for Delhi Capitals against Mumbai Indians in Dubai and for PBKS in 2025 against Punjab Kings. He is the only captain in the world to lose IPL finals with two different teams. Iyer, after being signed for Rs 26.75 crore by PBKS in the mega auction on November 24, 2024, was appointed as the captain earlier this year, and in his maiden season with the franchise, he amassed a total of 604 runs in 17 matches. Iyer kicked off the season with an unbeaten 97-run knock against Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 25 and followed it up with scores of 52 not out vs LSG in Lucknow (April 1), 10 against RR in Mullanpur (April 5), 9 against CSK in Mullanpur on April 8, 82 runs from 36 balls against SRH in Hyderabad (April 12), a two-ball duck vs KKR in Mullanpur on April 15, 7 against RCB in Bengaluru and 6 in Mullanpur on April 18 and 20, respectively. In PBKS’ ninth league match, Iyer remained unbeaten on 25 runs against KKR at Eden Gardens and then smacked 72 runs from 41 balls against CSK at Chepauk on April 30. In PBKS’ last four league matches, Iyer hammered 45 against LSG, 30 vs RR, 53 vs Delhi Capitals and an unbeaten 26 runs against Mumbai Indians in Jaipur. He got out for two runs in Qualifier 1 but made an unbeaten 87 runs in Qualifier 2 against the Mumbai Indians.