Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer recently revealed the story behind his growing nickname “Sarpanch Saab” ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Iyer shared a funny anecdote about discovering the real meaning of the word from his teammate Arshdeep Singh during the last season.
This popular term has become a household name among cricket fans across Punjab. The term “Sarpanch” refers to the village head in North India. Supporters adopted this nickname as an appreciation of the Punjab Kings captain’s on-field presence and his strong off-field connection with the local fans.
When I was called ‘Sarpanch’ for the first time… – Shreyas Iyer
Speaking at an event in Mohali, Shreyas Iyer explained how “Sarpanch” became his nickname. During his visits to Chandigarh and other areas, fans constantly welcome him with loud slogans of “Sarpanch Saab”.
Shreyas Iyer said, “I was talking to someone outside and I told them that when I was called ‘Sarpanch’ for the first time, I actually had to ask people what it actually meant. Like last year, I also asked Arshdeep what it meant and how the word was used. He told me that ‘Sarpanch’ refers to the head of a community, and slowly, it started connecting with me.”
Shreyas Iyer reveals how “Sarpanch” became his nickname pic.twitter.com/TxSijDJD5f
– Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) 22 March 2026
It was not that I liked it immediately – Shreyas Iyer
The Punjab Kings captain admitted that although he didn’t like the nickname at first, hearing it repeatedly over the past year has made it feel special. Iyer said the chants give him a feeling of pride and motivation and he is enjoying the pressure while accepting the challenge.
“It wasn’t that I liked it immediately, but even when I was walking on the street, people started calling me by that name. It’s now been a year since I started playing in the IPL, and whenever people meet me, they call me ‘Sarpanch’,” Iyer said.
“It feels good and also motivates me. I come into this new season with high expectations and honestly, it’s fun. I love the challenge.”
Punjab Kings look balanced on paper ahead of IPL 2026
Punjab Kings have a strong Indian bowling corps and an excellent overseas lineup. On paper, they have one of the most complete teams in the entire T20 competition.
However, having many options can create selection dilemmas. The franchise has strength, depth and variety, but the team management should avoid overthinking its starting combinations.
The 2025 season was Shreyas Iyer’s debut campaign with PBKS. He led the franchise to the final, where they lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The 31-year-old will aim to lead the team to its first title and clinch his second trophy as captain.
In the previous edition, Iyer finished as the leading run-scorer for Punjab Kings. He scored 604 runs at an average of 50.33 and strike rate of 175.07, which included six half-centuries.
PBKS will start their new campaign on March 31 against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Mullanpur. After this they will face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on 3 April and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on 6 April. They will play their last match in the first leg on April 11 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Mullanpur.
Also read: Indian women set to play three ODIs and one-off Test in South Africa in December 2026
