Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer, calling him the most improved batter over the past year. Ganguly believes that Iyer’s development has positioned him as a strong contender for a spot in all formats of the game. The newly appointed Punjab Kings captain smashed an unbeaten 97 off 42 balls with five fours and nine sixes, helping the team post a target of 244. In response, the Titans managed only 232 runs. Speaking after the win, Ganguly has appreciated Iyer for the way he has improved his game and feels that he is ready to play in all formats for India. The former BCCI president took to social media to write: “Shreyas Iyer the most improved batsman in last 1 yr .. ready for all formats. Great to see his improvement after a few issues on length.” Shreyas iyer the most improved batsman in last 1 yr .. ready for all formats . Great to see his improvement after a few issues on length @ShreyasIyer15 @bcci — Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) March 25, 2025 'It was important for me to go ahead and adapt': Shreyas Iyer After receiving the Player of the Match award, Shreyas Iyer reflected on his performance and how his mindset played a crucial role. He credited his strong start for building his confidence during the innings. "Ecstatic, to be honest. Getting 97 in the first match is always the icing on the cake. No better feeling, to be honest. It was important for me to go ahead and adapt. I got four off the first ball, and that gave an immense boost," Shreyas Iyer said. A notable aspect of Iyer’s recent success has been his improvement against short-pitched deliveries. In the past, bowlers targeted him with back-of-a-length deliveries, exploiting a perceived weakness. Until 2024, he had a strike rate of 111.7 against such deliveries. However, in 2025, Iyer has significantly enhanced his game, striking at an impressive 175 against the same length. Also Read: 'Ishan Kishan was overshadowed in MI': Sanjay Bangar Shreyas Iyer will return to action on April 1st, when Punjab Kings face Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.