Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer is continuing to make a strong case for himself as one of the IPL’s most effective leaders. After guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024, Iyer was released by the franchise. He then took charge of PBKS and steered them all the way to the final of IPL 2025.
In the current season, the story looks similar. Iyer is once again thriving with the bat and at the same time setting the tone as Punjab’s skipper. PBKS sit at the top of the points table, collecting nine points from five matches, and they remain the lone unbeaten side in this IPL campaign.
Quick facts
- Shreyas Iyer captained KKR to the IPL title in 2024 and was later released by the side.
- Iyer led PBKS to the final of IPL 2025.
- In the ongoing IPL, Punjab Kings top the table with nine points from five matches.
- PBKS are the only unbeaten team in the current edition.
- On April 16, Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer scored fluent fifties in PBKS’s win over Mumbai Indians.
- PBKS beat MI by seven wickets; MI suffered their fourth straight defeat in IPL 2026.
- Quinton de Kock made 112 not out and Naman Dhir made 50 for MI, with a 132-run third-wicket stand.
- PBKS chased 196, finishing on 198/3 with 21 balls remaining; Allah Ghazanfar took 2/31 for MI.
Iyer’s surprising captaincy inspiration
During an interview on Star Sports, Iyer was asked which captain he would most like to learn from. His answer raised eyebrows: he pointed to Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, choosing him over the likes of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
PBKS extend momentum with a dominant seven-wicket win
On Thursday, April 16, Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer delivered the kind of batting that keeps a winning run rolling. Punjab Kings continued their pressure with a seven-wicket demolition of Mumbai Indians, handing MI a fourth consecutive defeat in IPL 2026.
Even with Quinton de Kock producing a spectacular 112 not out, and Naman Dhir supporting with a 50, Mumbai Indians could not turn their platform into a chaseable total. The visitors managed 195/6, helped by a solid 132-run third-wicket partnership, but the pitch offered little resistance as Punjab’s batters kept finding their rhythm.
Prabhsimran then made his impact with the ball as well, posting wicketless figures against Jasprit Bumrah (0/41) and putting MI under strain after an early drop. He hammered an 80 not out off 31 deliveries, including 11 fours and two sixes, while Iyer struck in his typical aggressive-but-controlled style. The PBKS captain recorded his third fifty in as many innings, hitting 66 off 35 balls with five fours and four maximums.
Together, the duo built a match-shaping 139-run stand for the third wicket, ensuring the chase was never truly threatened. When Punjab went after 196, they crossed the line with 21 balls to spare, finishing on 198/3. For Mumbai, the only bowling effort that stood out came from Allah Ghazanfar, who returned 2/31 as the rest of the attack struggled to make an impact.
