Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings are set to go all guns blazing in the 2025 IPL Final. Under the leadership of Rajat Patidar and Shreyas Iyer respectively, both teams have staged brilliant campaigns to reach the title decider. While both skippers have had their moments of brilliance this year, the PBKS skipper has become an icon for fans and viewers across the country. Lovingly dubbed ‘Sarpanch’ by PBKS fans, the 30-year-old reacted to the same in a recent interaction with Bollywood star and PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
In a clip released on the franchise’s official X handle, Zinta questions the skipper’s opinion on his newfound nickname among fans. “You’ve been named Sarpanch Saab. How is this tag of the Sarpanch Saab because it’s just kind of stuck and it feels very organic?”, probed Zinta as she cracked a smile.
“I seriously have no clue about it. I’ve got no clue how I got this name, but I’m sure it came from the management,” said Iyer as he referred to several posts that were created by the PBKS account that hailed him as the ‘Sarpanch’. He also revealed a surprising promise made by a fan, if he brings the trophy home for the franchise.“I remember this incident where we were just coming back from the ground in our Innova. So we were stopped at the signal and there was this car filled with five guys. They saw me and they were like ‘Sarpanch Saab, iss saal jeeta dena, to yahaan ka ek rasta aapke naam kar denge'” (If we win this year, a road here will be named after you).
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The wild offer made by the fan is likely to strike a chord with the overall sentiment of supporters toward the PBKS skipper. His game-winning knock of 87* from 41 balls sealed the deal in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians. A lot of PBKS’ hopes will be riding on Iyer’s ability to deliver.Who’s that IPL player?This will be Punjab’s first final since 2014, where they ended up losing to Kolkata Knight Riders.
