Shreyas Iyer has grown into one of Indian cricket’s most stylish and dependable middle-order batters, known for his elegant cover drive, fearless approach against pace and spin, and calm leadership across multiple captaincy stints. Beyond his batting, fans have also followed the story behind his jersey number, which changed midway through his career following a memorable personal encounter.
This article covers everything about Shreyas Iyer, including his jersey number story, age, height, family background, career journey, complete stats, achievements and net worth.
Who Is Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Santosh Iyer is an Indian international cricketer who plays as a right-handed middle-order batter for India, Mumbai in domestic cricket, and captains Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League. He is also the vice-captain of India’s ODI team. He became the first Indian to score both a century and a half-century on Test debut, was a key contributor to India’s runner-up finish at the 2023 ODI World Cup, led Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 IPL title, and was India’s leading run-scorer at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which India won.
Shreyas Iyer Jersey Number
Shreyas Iyer currently wears jersey number 96 for both the Indian national team and Punjab Kings in the IPL. For the majority of his career, however, including his rise through Mumbai’s domestic system and his years with Delhi Capitals in the IPL, he wore the number 41, a number with deep personal meaning: it combined his father’s number, 4, with his mother’s number, 1, as a tribute to his parents. The switch to number 96 came about after a personal encounter with English footballer Ben Chilwell during a visit to Chelsea Football Club’s Stamford Bridge stadium, where Chilwell gifted him a Chelsea jersey bearing the number 96. Iyer decided to adopt the number himself, and has worn it ever since across international cricket and the IPL, including during his title-winning stint with Kolkata Knight Riders and his record-breaking move to Punjab Kings.
Shreyas Iyer Age
Shreyas Iyer was born on December 6, 1994, in Chembur, Mumbai, Maharashtra. This makes him around 31 years old as of 2026. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
Shreyas Iyer Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Shreyas Iyer stands at approximately 5 feet 10 inches, or around 178 centimeters, with a lean, athletic build of around 72 kilograms. His height gives him a commanding reach and a well balanced center of gravity at the crease, allowing him to rock back for the pull shot as effectively as he strides forward against spin bowling. He bats right-handed and bowls occasional right-arm leg break.
Family Background
Shreyas Iyer comes from a close-knit family in Mumbai with South Indian roots. His father, Santosh Iyer, is a Tamilian with family roots in Kerala, while his mother, Rohini Iyer, comes from a Tuluva family from Mangalore. He has one younger sister, Shresta Iyer, who works as a professional dancer and choreographer. According to available reports, he does not have other cricketing relatives, making his rise through the sport a product of his own dedication rather than family sporting legacy, though his parents have been a steady, supportive presence throughout his career.
Career Journey
Shreyas Iyer’s cricketing education came through Mumbai’s demanding domestic system, where he honed his craft, particularly against spin bowling, from a young age. In 2014, during a tour to the United Kingdom, he played for Trent Bridge Cricket Club, scoring 297 runs in 3 matches at an average of 99, including a top score of 171, setting a new team record. He made his first-class debut for Mumbai in November 2014, and enjoyed a breakout Ranji Trophy season in 2015-16, scoring 1,321 runs at an average of 73, including a century in the final as Mumbai won their 41st Ranji Trophy title. That same year, his consistent domestic form earned him the Emerging Player of the Year award in the 2015 IPL season, in which he scored 439 runs in 14 matches on his tournament debut for Delhi Daredevils.
Growing clamor for his international selection eventually paid off in 2017. He made his T20I debut for India on November 1, 2017, against New Zealand in Delhi, and his ODI debut followed weeks later, on December 10, 2017, against Sri Lanka in Dharamshala. He found a home in India’s middle order, scoring his first international century in an ODI against New Zealand in February 2020. In the IPL, he was named captain of Delhi Capitals midway through the 2018 season, going on to lead the franchise to three consecutive playoff appearances, including their first ever IPL final in 2020.
His Test debut came on November 25, 2021, against New Zealand in Kanpur, where he scored 105 in the first innings and 65 in the second, becoming the first Indian batter in history to score both a century and a half-century on Test debut, and was named Player of the Match. However, his career has also been marked by significant injury setbacks. On March 14, 2021, he dislocated his shoulder while diving to save runs in an ODI against England, an injury that required surgery and sidelined him for months. He missed the first half of the 2021 IPL season as a result, and upon his return, Delhi Capitals opted to continue with Rishabh Pant as captain instead, leading Iyer to leave the franchise at the end of that season.
In the 2022 IPL mega auction, Iyer was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for 12.25 crore rupees and appointed captain. He then required back surgery, which forced him to miss the entire 2023 IPL season. He made a strong return later that year at the 2023 ODI World Cup, scoring 530 runs in 11 matches at an average of 66.25, including two centuries, one of them in the crucial semifinal, playing a pivotal role in India’s run to the final. In 2024, he returned to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title. Between March 2024 and early 2025, Iyer enjoyed a remarkable run of five different title wins: the IPL 2024 title with KKR, the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy and 2024-25 Irani Cup with Mumbai, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in December 2024, where he scored 345 runs at a strike rate of 188.52 to help lead Mumbai to the title. During this red-ball resurgence, he also scored 142 against Maharashtra in October 2024, his first red-ball century in three years, and followed it with 233 against Odisha in November 2024, his third first-class double century.
Ahead of the 2025 IPL season, Iyer was bought by Punjab Kings for a record 26.75 crore rupees, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL auction history, and was appointed captain. He led the franchise to their second ever IPL final that season. Also in 2025, he was India’s leading run-scorer at the ICC Champions Trophy, with 243 runs, as India went on to win the tournament unbeaten.
Career Stats and Records
International Career Statistics (as of 2026)
| Format | Debut Date | Matches | Runs | Average | Centuries | Half-Centuries | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | November 25, 2021, vs New Zealand | Limited appearances | 170+ | — | 1 | 1 | 105 |
| ODI | December 10, 2017, vs Sri Lanka | 60+ | 2,850+ | Around 50 | 5 | 23 | 128 |
| T20I | November 1, 2017, vs New Zealand | 51 | 1,104+ | — | 0 | Multiple | — |
Note: Different statistics providers report slightly varying totals for Iyer’s ODI and T20I numbers, largely due to the timing of the data snapshot given his ongoing career. The figures above reflect the most recent, most consistently reported data available as of 2026.
Indian Premier League Career
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| IPL Debut | 2015, for Delhi Daredevils |
| Franchises | Delhi Daredevils/Capitals (2015-2021), Kolkata Knight Riders (2022-2024), Punjab Kings (2025-present) |
| Matches Played | 147 |
| Runs Scored | 4,229 |
| Average | 35.84 |
| Highest Score | 101 not out |
| Centuries | 1 |
| Half-Centuries | 32 |
| 2025 Auction Price | 26.75 crore rupees (2nd-most expensive player in IPL auction history) |
| Emerging Player of the Year | 2015 |
Key Career Milestones
| Milestone | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| IPL debut and Emerging Player award | 2015 | 439 runs in 14 matches for Delhi Daredevils |
| T20I debut | November 1, 2017 | vs New Zealand, Delhi |
| ODI debut | December 10, 2017 | vs Sri Lanka, Dharamshala |
| Delhi Capitals captaincy | 2018 | Appointed mid-season; led team to 3 straight playoffs |
| First international century | February 2020 | ODI vs New Zealand |
| Shoulder dislocation injury | March 14, 2021 | vs England, ODI |
| Test debut | November 25, 2021 | vs New Zealand, Kanpur; scored century and fifty, first Indian to do so on debut |
| KKR captaincy | 2022 | Bought for 12.25 crore rupees |
| Back surgery, missed IPL | 2023 | Missed entire IPL 2023 season |
| 2023 ODI World Cup | October to November 2023 | 530 runs, avg 66.25, century in semifinal; India runners-up |
| KKR IPL title | 2024 | Led Kolkata Knight Riders to their 3rd IPL title |
| Five title wins in one year | March 2024 to early 2025 | IPL 2024 (KKR), Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (all with Mumbai) |
| Move to Punjab Kings | 2025 | Bought for 26.75 crore rupees, 2nd-most expensive player in IPL auction history |
| 2025 ICC Champions Trophy | February to March 2025 | India’s leading run-scorer (243 runs); India won the title |
Achievements
Shreyas Iyer’s key achievements include becoming the first Indian batter to score both a century and a half-century on Test debut, winning the IPL Emerging Player of the Year award in 2015, and captaining Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 IPL title. He played a central role in India’s runner-up campaign at the 2023 ODI World Cup, scoring 530 runs including two centuries, and was India’s leading run-scorer at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which India won unbeaten. He also enjoyed a historic run of five title wins across formats between March 2024 and early 2025, and became the second-most expensive player in IPL auction history when Punjab Kings signed him for 26.75 crore rupees in 2025.
Shreyas Iyer Net Worth
Shreyas Iyer’s net worth is not officially disclosed, and media estimates vary widely, generally ranging from around 80 crore rupees to over 110 crore rupees as of 2026. His income is understood to come from his BCCI central contract, his IPL salary, which alone stands at 26.75 crore rupees per season with Punjab Kings, and a range of brand endorsements. Since these figures are not confirmed directly by him, they should be treated as approximate estimates rather than verified numbers.
Social Media Profile
Shreyas Iyer is active on Instagram under the verified handle @shreyasiyer96, a handle that reflects his current jersey number, where he has built a following of around 17 million people, sharing updates from his matches, training and personal life. Fans should be cautious of the very large number of fan pages and fan club accounts using variations of his name, including accounts with tens of thousands of followers of their own, since the handle listed above is his confirmed official profile.
Shreyas Iyer Wife and Relationship
As of the most recently available reports, Shreyas Iyer has not publicly confirmed any relationship and is considered single, generally keeping his personal life away from media speculation despite frequent fan interest in the subject. His career has also been shaped by challenges beyond injuries, including a public contract dispute with the BCCI that saw him dropped from the central contract list at one point, a setback from which he rebuilt his reputation through strong domestic performances before earning his way back into the national setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jersey number does Shreyas Iyer wear?
He currently wears number 96 for both India and Punjab Kings, having previously worn number 41 for most of his career.
Why did Shreyas Iyer change his jersey number from 41 to 96?
He originally wore 41 as a tribute to his parents, combining his father’s number 4 and his mother’s number 1. He switched to 96 after English footballer Ben Chilwell gifted him a Chelsea jersey with that number during a visit to Stamford Bridge.
How old is Shreyas Iyer?
Shreyas Iyer was born on December 6, 1994, which makes him around 31 years old as of 2026.
What is Shreyas Iyer’s height?
He stands at approximately 5 feet 10 inches, or around 178 centimeters.
Who are Shreyas Iyer’s parents?
His father, Santosh Iyer, is a Tamilian with roots in Kerala, and his mother, Rohini Iyer, is from a Tuluva family in Mangalore.
Which IPL team does Shreyas Iyer captain?
He captains Punjab Kings, having previously captained Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders.
What is Shreyas Iyer’s biggest cricketing achievement?
His achievements include becoming the first Indian to score a century and fifty on Test debut, leading KKR to the 2024 IPL title, and being India’s leading run-scorer at the 2025 Champions Trophy, which India won.
What is Shreyas Iyer’s net worth?
His net worth is not officially disclosed, with media estimates ranging from around 80 crore to over 110 crore rupees.
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