Shreyas Iyer has become the headline act for Punjab Kings, with his current form powering a run of success in the IPL 2026. The captain’s stand-out batting has arrived in tandem with an impressive team momentum, as PBKS are yet to register a defeat in the 19th season of the T20 league. With the franchise looking increasingly well-rounded, the spotlight has shifted beyond results to a bigger question: why hasn’t the right-handed batter been able to force his way back into India’s T20I plans?
Iyer’s track record in recent IPL seasons has been hard to ignore. In IPL 2025, he amassed more than 600 runs and played a key role in guiding Punjab Kings to the final. Even before that, he delivered a title-winning campaign with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Yet despite these credentials, he did not manage a return to India’s T20I playing group and was left out when it came to the T20 World Cup squad.
Now, with Iyer’s hot streak running alongside Suryakumar Yadav’s lean patch, speculation has returned about a possible leadership transition—suggesting Iyer could be lined up as the next India captain. However, former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan believes the priority should be simpler: Shreyas should concentrate on making a strong, lasting impact with the bat, and worry about captaincy only after earning his place in the national side.
Zaheer’s message was clear. “First, being part of the T20 setup will be on his mind. Captaincy, I am not sure if he is thinking about that right now. He can be a contender in due course because he has been captaining franchises for a while now and has been successful. So, he clearly has that mindset,” Zaheer said.
He added that performances at the player level should come first. “When you are looking at the Indian T20 setup, I think he must be thinking first and foremost of making an impact with his performances as just a player to secure a spot. Once you are in the squad, then the rest of the things are up to how the team management is looking at things,” he said.
How has Shreyas performed in IPL 2026?
In IPL 2026, Iyer’s output has been central to Punjab Kings’ continued position near the top. Across the six matches he has played so far, he has scored 208 runs at an average of 52, striking at a rate of 180-plus. His individual form has helped PBKS maintain their winning rhythm, keeping the franchise firmly among the teams to watch.
Punjab Kings currently sit with 11 points from six games. Their next assignment is against the Delhi Capitals on Saturday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
