The Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer led Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 with unmatched grit and intelligence, earning admiration for his calm, bold decisions under pressure. His leadership was marked by sharp instincts, fearless calls and an unwavering belief in his team. In a tournament filled with stars, Shreyas Iyer emerged as a true captain who is respected, effective and inspiring.
The call for Shreyas Iyer to captain India in white-ball cricket is growing stronger, especially after he steered Punjab Kings to their first IPL final in 11 years. This follows his triumph with Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous season, where he led them to a title win. Although PBKS fell just short of victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final, Shreyas Iyer’s leadership stood out once again.
This final marked the third time an IPL team reached the summit clash under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, cementing his reputation as a natural leader. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India and chief selector Ajit Agarkar haven’t officially addressed his potential role in team India, the cricketing world has started to take notice.
Brad Haddin, former Australian cricketer and assistant coach of PBKS, was particularly vocal in his praise. Recalling the dramatic decision-making before the second qualifier against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Brad Haddin described how Shreyas Iyer overruled the team’s pre-match strategy. Despite all analytics and planning pointing toward batting first, Shreyas Iyer insisted on bowling.
Brad Haddin shared this moment on a podcast, expressing his hope that selectors recognise Shreyas Iyer’s rare leadership instincts. He explained how the team had agreed to bat first, supported by data and conditions. But Shreyas Iyer, with full conviction, said they would bowl and promised to win the match himself.
That’s exactly what he did. Chasing 204 after Mumbai posted 203/6, Shreyas Iyer played a sensational knock, scoring an unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls. His fearless innings took PBKS to victory in 19 overs, securing their place in the final and leaving everyone in awe of his leadership and performance.
With each season, Shreyas Iyer is not just building a strong captaincy resume, he’s making a compelling case to lead India on the biggest stages.
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