'Just hoping to support MI' - Shreyas Iyer backs five-time champions to beat RR to boost PBKS' chances of qualification

Published - 24 May 2026, 13:23 IST | Updated - 24 May 2026, 13:39 IST

Shreyas Iyer has come out and claimed that he would be supporting the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday when the five-time champions take on the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Wakhede Stadium on Sunday, May 24.

PBKS ended their dismal six-match losing streak with a comprehensive victory over the Lucknow Super Giants in Uttar Pradesh. Last year’s finalists chased down 197 with two overs to spare, following Iyer’s unbeaten 101 off just 51 balls, his first century in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Kings are now temporarily in the top four and need MI to beat RR to ensure they qualify for the playoffs. However, a Royals win means the end of the road for PBKS in this year’s IPL. Iyer was happy with his and his team’s performance against LSG and will now sit down and support the team from the city where he was born.

“I’m ecstatic to be honest. It’s my first hundred of the season and came at the right time when the team needed it. We won eventually after six consecutive losses. It’s a great positive and just hoping to support MI tomorrow,” Shreyas Iyer said during the post-match presentation.

Iyer has been PBKS’ best batter all season long, having scored 498 runs in 14 matches at a strike-rate of 168.81.

Both PBKS and the Kolkata Knight Riders would be backing MI to beat RR on Sunday. The Knight Riders also have a chance to reach 15 points and go level with Iyer’s side. However, they will need to beat the Delhi Capitals by a hefty margin to overcome PBKS’ better net run-rate.

Shreyas Iyer destroys LSG attack with stunning strokeplay

It is worth mentioning that Iyer has a close association with Mumbai, representing them in the domestic circuit. He made his professional debut for them back in 2014 and features in the T20 Mumbai League, captaining the Sobo Mumbai Falcons. The right-handed batter will return as the skipper in 2026 after being retained ahead of the new season. Despite his long affiliation with the city, the 31-year-old has never represented MI in the IPL.