Kamal Ghorui
Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer continues to strengthen his case as a future leader of India’s T20I side, with former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin throwing his weight firmly behind the in-form batter.Iyer led from the front once again, producing a match-winning knock against Mumbai Indians at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. His 66 off just 35 balls marked his third consecutive half-century this season and played a decisive role in Punjab Kings’ emphatic chase. Punjab Kings have emerged as one of the most dangerous chasing sides in the IPL. Their latest win over Mumbai not only sealed their third consecutive victory against the five-time champions but also highlighted a remarkable trend, PBKS have now won 9 out of their last 11 matches while chasing since the 2025 season.Chasing a competitive 196, Punjab made it look effortless. Iyer stitched together a commanding 139-run partnership with Prabhsimran Singh, who remained unbeaten on 80 off 39 balls. The duo dismantled Mumbai’s bowling attack, guiding the team home with 21 balls to spare.All-Round Impact from IyerIyer’s influence wasn’t limited to his batting. Earlier in the match, he produced a stunning acrobatic effort at long-on to dismiss Hardik Pandya. Timing his leap to perfection, Iyer caught the ball mid-air and flicked it back to teammate Xavier Bartlett before crossing the boundary rope, a moment of brilliance that shifted momentum in Punjab’s favour.With this innings, Iyer also crossed the milestone of 500 career IPL runs against Mumbai Indians, underlining his consistency against one of the league’s most successful teams.Ashwin’s Strong EndorsementSpeaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin didn’t hold back in his praise for Iyer’s leadership and performances.“Even after doing all these things, if Shreyas Iyer doesn’t become India’s T20 captain, then it’s their loss, not Shreyas’s.”Ashwin’s remarks come at a time when discussions around India’s T20 leadership are gaining momentum, and Iyer’s name is increasingly entering that 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 a final, guiding Delhi Capitals to their maiden final in 2020, winning the title with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and taking Punjab Kings to the final in 2025 after a 14-year wait.
