It is rare for a score in the 90s to be celebrated more than a century, but last night, Shreyas Iyer altered that perception. The captain of the Punjab Kings, making his debut for PBKS, finished his innings not out at 97, choosing to forgo his century for the benefit of the team. At the conclusion of the 17th over, Iyer was aggressively batting at 90. With 18 balls remaining, he could have easily taken control of the strike to secure his hundred, but the 30-year-old opted to prioritize the team's success over personal achievement. With Shashank Singh performing exceptionally well at the other end, Iyer allowed his teammate to take the lead in scoring rather than monopolizing the strike.

During the final four overs, Iyer faced only five balls—two of which were wides—while Shashank dominated the scoring, finishing with an impressive 44 runs off just 16 deliveries, helping PBKS reach a formidable total of 243/5. Following an 11-run victory, Iyer's selflessness was praised globally, with none more vocally than Ambati Rayudu. The former Indian cricketer challenged a whole generation of Mumbai players, emphasizing the significance of centuries in that region.

"Especially coming from a Bombay batsman, that's quite a shift. Growing up in Bombay, he must have constantly heard '100, 100, 100, 100' in his mind. So I think that's a significant change, and it's truly commendable," Rayudu remarked during an interview on ESPNCricinfo after PBKS triumphed over the Gujarat Titans.

Rayudu's observation holds merit. Mumbai is arguably the foremost cricketing hub in India, having produced a multitude of celebrated players over the past century. It is no surprise that Mumbai has claimed the Ranji Trophy 42 times—more than any other team. From Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar to Rohit Sharma and now Iyer, Mumbai has a rich cricketing heritage in the history of Indian cricket.

Mumbai the century hub in Indian cricket

Gavaskar, who achieved 34 Test centuries, previously held the record for the most hundreds in Test cricket until Tendulkar's remarkable feat of 100 centuries emerged. Long before Virat Kohli captured the spotlight, it was Tendulkar who ignited a nationwide obsession with scoring centuries. Fans expected nothing less than a three-figure score from the Master Blaster every time he stepped onto the field. In the current era, Rohit Sharma, with 32 centuries, ranks among a select few in the list of most ODI hundreds, trailing only Kohli and Tendulkar.

Meanwhile, Iyer is rapidly advancing in his career. Since making his international debut in 2017, Iyer's initial years were marked by inconsistency due to injuries and fluctuating form. However, the 2023 World Cup proved to be a pivotal moment for him, as he amassed over 500 runs, solidifying his position as an indispensable player.

Despite his ongoing back issues and inability to participate in domestic matches, Iyer's BCCI contract was terminated following his leadership of KKR to victory in IPL 2024. Now, having returned to the Indian team, Iyer has yet to reestablish himself in the T20I format, but if last evening's performance is any indication, he is eager to make a significant impact.

Read Also: ‘Forget My Hundred, Just Go for It!’ – PBKS Captain’s Selfless Directive as Shashank Singh Misses Iyer’s 97

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!