Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has lavished praise on Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, suggesting the stylish right-hander is close to eclipsing several of the most decorated leaders in IPL history, with MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir singled out in particular. Pathan noted that Iyer has already guided three different franchises to the title match and won the competition with KKR, adding that another trophy—this time with Punjab—would put him above everyone in the comparison.
Pathan’s verdict on Iyer’s leadership
Speaking on Jio Hotstar, Pathan said Iyer’s track record as a captain stands out because of how rare it is to steer multiple teams to the IPL final. He highlighted that taking different franchises to the summit is a demanding task, since each setup comes with its own culture, structure and approach. In Pathan’s view, adapting to those differences and still finding a way to lead from the front is an achievement that has not been matched in the league.
“Not easy” to handle different franchises
Pathan further explained that the challenge begins with the fact that every franchise operates differently. He stressed that aligning with a new environment, learning the internal dynamics and then driving the group toward the biggest stage requires more than just tactical planning—it requires leadership that can travel across contexts. Pathan’s message was that Iyer’s ability to keep delivering at the highest level is what places him among the best captains in IPL history.
Comparing with Dhoni, Rohit and Gambhir
In his comparison, Pathan pointed out that other great captains’ trophy hauls have largely been tied to one franchise. He said MS Dhoni won all five of his IPL titles with CSK and has also been associated with other teams, but the major successes as a captain came with Chennai. Pathan also noted that Rohit Sharma’s IPL captaincy trophies have been with MI, while Gautam Gambhir achieved his title-winning moment for KKR in the two seasons being referenced.
Punjab Kings’ IPL 2025 form
Under Iyer’s captaincy, Punjab Kings have produced strong performances to reach the IPL final, though they fell short of the title against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025. The side also sits at the top of the points table, currently placed first with 13 points from nine matches. Their next assignment is a clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the champions of the 2016 Indian Premier League, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
