Shreyas Iyer (Screengrab/X) Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer continues to strengthen his position as a future T20I opponent for the Indian side, with former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin throwing his weight firmly behind the in-form batter.Iyer once again led from the front to beat Mumbai Indians at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. His 66 off just 35 balls marked his third consecutive half-century this season and played a crucial role in Punjab Kings’ emphatic chase. The Punjab Kings have proved to be one of the most dangerous chasing sides in the IPL. Their latest win over Mumbai not only sealed their third win in a row against the five-time champions but also highlighted a remarkable trend, with PBKS now winning 9 of their last 11 matches as they chase the 2025 season.Chasing a competitive 196, Punjab looked effortless. Iyer put together a commanding 139-run partnership with Prabhsimran Singh, who remained unbeaten on 80 off 39 balls. The duo dismantled Mumbai’s bowling attack and led the team home with 21 balls to spare.All-round impact from IyerIyer’s influence was not limited to his batting. Earlier in the match, he produced a stunning acrobatic effort at long-on to dismiss Hardik Pandya. Iyer timed his dive to perfection, catching the ball in the air and flicking it back to teammate Xavier Bartlett before crossing the boundary rope, a moment of brilliance that shifted the momentum in Punjab’s favour.With this innings, Iyer also crossed the milestone of 500 IPL career runs against Mumbai Indians, underlining his consistency against one of the most successful teams in the league.Ashwin’s strong supportSpeaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin did not hold back in his praise for Iyer’s leadership and performances.“Even after doing all these things, if Shreyas Iyer does not come into India’s management plan, then it is their loss, not Shreyas’s.”Ashwin’s comments come at a time when the debate surrounding India’s T20 leadership is gaining momentum and Iyer’s name is increasingly entering the conversation.A proven leader across franchisesIyer’s captaincy is already impressive. He remains the only player in IPL history to lead three different franchises to the finals, leading Delhi Capitals to their first final in 2020, winning the title with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 and leading Punjab Kings to the final in 2025 after a 14-year wait.
