Punjab Kings captain, Shreyas Iyer (Image Credit: IPL) Shreyas Iyer is one of the most impressive names in cricket right now. The way he has managed the IPL has once again sparked calls from fans and pundits alike for his return to India’s T20I set-up. However, this increase is not built on just one exceptional season. In the last few years, since accepting the demands of captaincy, Iyer has not only shown what a capable leader he can be, but also as a batsman who dominates seasons while balancing the dual roles of anchor and aggressor.In IPL 2020, he captained Delhi Capitals and under his leadership the team reached their first IPL final. This season, Iyer also contributed significantly with the bat, scoring 519 runs in 17 innings at a strike rate of 123.27. Soon after he became the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024, the team won their third title after 12 years under his leadership and he contributed 351 runs in 15 matches.In IPL 2025, he was picked by the Punjab Kings and the team reached the final for the first time in 11 years. This season proved to be a career-defining one for Iyer as he produced his most explosive batting performance as he amassed 604 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 175.07.A common factor in his leadership is that he not only leads his teammates, but also contributes himself, whether on the field or with the bat, relieving pressure in tight matches. In Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians last year, he single-handedly dominated the chase and even hit the world’s best bowler Jasprit Bumrah for a six with absolute authority.
The struggling form of Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav, who is currently India’s T20I captain, has had a very successful campaign overall. He led India to the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2025 Asia Cup titles and also holds the record for the highest winning percentage among Indian T20I captains (minimum 20 matches). He led India to 40 wins, 8 losses and 2 draws in 52 matches as captain.However, concerns about his leadership revolve around his age and recent decline in batting. In the five-match home series against New Zealand at the start of 2026, he scored 242 runs, surpassing Virat Kohli’s previous record of 231 runs. He also completed 1,000 T20I runs as India’s captain during his match-winning 84 (49) against USA in the 2026 T20 World Cup.But in ICC tournaments, his contributions with the bat have been quite limited. In Asia Cup 2025 he scored just 72 runs in 7 matches and in T20 World Cup 2026 he scored 242 runs in 9 innings. Despite India winning the World Cup, his strike rate of 136.72 was the lowest among Indian batsmen in the tournament and he struggled in the knockout stages, including a duck in the final against New Zealand.He emerged as the MVP in IPL 2025 and scored 717 runs in 16 matches. However, his numbers have dipped in the ongoing IPL season, managing just 121 runs in 6 matches so far. His recent match against Punjab Kings on April 16 resulted in a golden duck where he was dismissed by Arshdeep Singh and against Gujarat Titans on Monday he started well but was cleaned up by an absolute seed from Kagiso Rabada in the 15th over.Looking ahead, the next big T20I event is the 2028 T20 World Cup, where India will defend their title and the same year cricket will be part of the LA 2028 Olympics. By then, Suryakumar Yadav will be 38. And alongside Iyer, the likes of Rajat Patidar are pushing for opportunities in the middle order, meaning a continued slump in form for SKY could put his place under pressure in the next cycle.
Why does Shreyas Iyer fit into India’s management scheme?
Iyer has not only won titles but also performed consistently across formats and with different teams and players, making him a trailblazer.However, Iyer will face stiff competition from other players in the T20 setup. Patidar, who led RCB to the title in his first season after an 18-year wait, also impressed with both batting and leadership. Axar Patel, who served as India’s vice-captain, is also in charge of the race, though his recent form has dipped. A regular in the T20I squad, Sanju Samson is another strong contender who has played crucial knocks in major matches.What makes Iyer unique among them is his consistency over the years. He has consistently played with the bat and delivered results as a leader. In the 2024-2026 seasons, Shreyas Iyer won widespread acclaim from the cricketing fraternity for his tactical maturity and leadership resilience, especially after leading three different franchises to the IPL finals.Expert recommendations for managementAnil Kumble: Calling him a “definitely underrated captain”, he emphasized the difficulty of changing a franchise and immediately taking them to the finals, which Iyer achieved by leading PBKS to the 2025 finals in his debut season.Ricky Ponting: The PBKS head coach said Iyer has “taken his game to a whole other level” and described him as a leader who has completely matured both personally and tactically.Brad Haddin: Hailed him as a “game changer” who truly cares about his players and noted his unique record of leading three different teams (DC, KKR, PBKS) to the IPL final.Recently, Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted how Shreyas Iyer’s hot form is driving his captaincy.“Just the comfort he creates around the team to say, we’re going to have a brotherly conversation. It’s a brotherhood here. At the end of the day, I’ve played in teams where there’s always that layer that you can’t… You’re just not able to go to the captain or the coach and say, ‘I’m going to deliver it to you.’ amazing and I think the way he bats, he is growing into a leader that the players look up to, which is a lethal combination,” Ashwin said.Shreyas Iyer’s rise as both a batsman and captain makes him one of the strongest contenders to return to India’s T20I setup for the next T20I World Cup cycle and management scheme. While Suryakumar Yadav remains the current leader, Iyer’s combination of consistent performances, proven captaincy across teams and ability to handle pressure situations puts him in a strong position going forward.
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Who could potentially replace Suryakumar Yadav as T20I captain in the upcoming cycle?
