Following the Punjab Kings (PBKS) dominant 54-run victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 19, 2026, captain Shreyas Iyer was involved in a light-hearted, viral moment when he realized he had forgotten his shoes. After the match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Iyer had changed into comfortable slippers while relaxing on the turf. When he was called for the official post-match presentation, he realized he didn't have enough time to return to the dressing room for his sneakers. 

To comply with BCCI protocol, which mandates proper footwear and team kit at official ceremonies to avoid fines, Iyer approached a nearby cameraman and borrowed his shoes to attend the ceremony. His sneakers were back in the dugout or dressing room, and there was no time to fetch them before the live broadcast started.Failing to adhere to the dress code can result in hefty fines. Rather than delaying the ceremony, Iyer quickly scanned his surroundings and spotted a cameraman nearby. He jokingly requested to borrow the technician's shoes. In a video captured by fans and journalists, the cameraman was seen taking off his white sneakers while Iyer kicked off his slippers to slide into them.

Aftermath of this ‘shoe swap

The aftermath of Shreyas Iyer’s "shoe swap" resulted in a mix of viral humor, lighthearted dressing room banter, and praise for his "grounded" captaincy. The immediate aftermath saw Iyer trending across social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Fans and commentators jokingly crowned him the successor to Rohit Sharma in terms of forgetfulness. Supporters of Punjab Kings (PBKS) used the moment to reinforce his "Sarpanch" (village head) persona, highlighting his willingness to wear a common technician’s shoes without hesitation. 

During the presentation itself, the atmosphere remained celebratory due to Punjab's 54-run win. Iyer joked during his interview that his teammates were so in the zone that they were "competing for his bat" as a prize for hitting the most sixes.PBKS teammates, such as Shashank Singh, have since spoken about Iyer's "chill" leadership style, noting that such lighthearted moments are common in their currently top-of-the-table squad.