Leading an Indian Premier League franchise is a role that comes with instant respect, but the job is never smooth. The T20 tournament has its share of spikes and valleys, and what separates one skipper’s legacy from another is how he handles pressure—both in public and in crunch moments. India is currently riding a particularly strong wave in international cricket, having strengthened its dominance in T20 internationals and recently secured successive ICC Men’s T20 World Cup titles, with the 2026 crown arriving under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav just ahead of the IPL. Yet, with Yadav now 35 and experiencing a small dip in his personal returns even while maintaining a record of proven leadership, there is growing discussion that India may start preparing for a handover to a younger, established captain for the 2026–28 T20 cycle. Names already doing the rounds include Shubman Gill—who captains India in both ODI and Tests—and Sanju Samson.
Amid that speculation, it’s difficult to ignore the momentum behind Shreyas Iyer, a young IPL-winning captain who has continued to build a case for becoming part of India’s next-generation T20 leadership group. With age working in his favour and a clearer sense of composure and maturity becoming visible from season to season, Iyer has drawn increasing attention as a potential long-term choice for the shortest format. His recent appointment as vice-captain of India’s ODI side under Gill has also reinforced the level of confidence placed in his leadership, not just his batting.
Cricket, however, keeps moving, and India’s selection group has already begun adjusting the ODI and Test setup in line with an international schedule that promises to be packed. For now, the focus remains on T20, with the ongoing IPL nearing its decisive phase before India’s overseas commitments begin. The international schedule includes matches against Ireland in late June, followed by a five-match series against England.
With the next Indian T20 captain expected to be named soon, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting—an IPL-winning leader twice over and currently the head coach of Punjab Kings—has once again thrown his support behind Iyer. Ponting highlighted both Iyer’s leadership abilities and his current form with the bat, suggesting that the right mix of traits is already falling into place.“I think there are several contenders, but he’s (Shreyas Iyer) one of the main contenders as far as I’m concerned. I think we saw at the start of the tournament just how good a T20 player he is and where he’s at, both on and off the field right now,” Ponting said.
While it may seem like a franchise coach naturally backing his own captain, that support is also rooted in the changes Iyer has made over time. He has evolved from being viewed primarily as a talented batter into a skipper who has learned how to steer a side toward results—something that has become harder to dismiss as his seasons progress.
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The Ponting-Iyer relationship has played a central role in Punjab Kings’ revival. The franchise secured Iyer for INR 26.75 crore ahead of the 2025 season, shortly after the 31-year-old guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title in 2024. Under their combined leadership, PBKS finished top of the league standings in 2025 but were unable to convert that advantage in the final, losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Ponting backs Iyer to fire against LSG
That disappointment, though, did not derail Iyer’s drive. Punjab Kings carried the momentum into 2026, staying unbeaten in their opening seven outings and once again asserting themselves in the group stage. More recently, the results have turned more difficult: the side has suffered six straight defeats, leaving them scrambling for qualification ahead of a key encounter against Lucknow Super Giants on May 23.
Ponting also pointed to what he sees as Iyer’s growth during high-pressure stretches, and he urged that the skipper should be able to deliver when the stakes are highest. “I think he’s a much more mature player than he’s probably ever been in his whole career. I think he’s completely on top of his game now. He’s probably a good example of what I was talking about earlier; it’s really hard to maintain a high level of consistency through 14 games of cricket. There are going to be times when you have your ups and downs as an individual and as a team. I’m pretty sure he’ll bounce back in this last game that we’ve got. If he stands up and makes a big score, then we’re a good chance of winning the game,” Ponting added.
