Despite being subbed off due to a finger injury, Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer found a way to contribute during his team’s crucial IPL 2025 clash against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. After scoring a steady 30 off 25 balls, Shreyas did not return to the field for the second innings, but his absence was only on paper. Iyer was seen animatedly interacting with fielders on the boundary line and even guiding stand-in captain Shashank Singh with field placements. The visuals, which have since gone viral, showed Shreyas' gesturing tactics and sharing inputs as PBKS defended 219. Also READ: Mustafizur Joins DC After Match-Winning Spell vs UAE His off-field leadership did not go unnoticed, with fans lauding the skipper’s commitment to the team’s cause despite his injury. PBKS eventually held on for a 10-run win and later qualified for the playoffs. Sarpanch Shreyas Iyer❤️🙏🏻- Nehra ji would be proud😭❤️#RRvsPBKS #ShreyasIyer pic.twitter.com/5IPU26UChO — Robin (@robinchopra10) May 18, 2025 Like if you want Shreyas Iyer as a mentor of PBKS after his retirement. pic.twitter.com/62GOMTcEkH — Manya :) (@maannyaaa) May 18, 2025 Shreyas Iyer is so damn serious about PBKS this season 🫡 pic.twitter.com/RhRuTNE7rx — TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) May 18, 2025 Iyer leading his team from boundary line 🥵🔥SHREYAS IYER THE LEADER 😶‍🌫️🫡 pic.twitter.com/Md04K8ZX89 — Rea💗 (@Rohieee96) May 18, 2025 Who replaced Shreyas Iyer on the field? Harpreet Brar, who came on as a substitute for Iyer, made an instant impact with a spell of 3/22 that turned the game in PBKS’ favour. Brar removed both Yashasvi Jaiswal and 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to derail Rajasthan’s early charge. Brar was the player of the match for his spell. Virat Kohli Retires from Tests Ahead of England Series Speaking during the post-match presentation, Shreyas Iyer revealed that he did not return to the field because of a finger injury. He also appreciated Brar for his match-winning spell. "[Brar] has been consistent in the nets, coming day in and out for practice sessions. And he wants to do the best for himself and he was hungry for this opportunity. And I feel that today he stepped in and delivered at his best. So, congratulations to him and also his mindset has been tremendous throughout," he said. PBKS, with eight wins from 12 matches, sit in the third spot in the points table and will return to action on May 24, where they will take on Delhi Capitals.