Punjab Kings pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak praised Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, stating his impact extends beyond tactics and strengthens his case for India captaincy. Shreyas Iyer’s steady run across the IPL and domestic competitions has secured him the deputy position in India’s ODI side.
“I feel he’s a captain who consistently supports his bowlers and teammates. Whether you’re performing well or struggling, that backing is crucial, especially for a bowler,” Vijaykumar Vyshak said during a roundtable interaction with India Today.
“He’s been outstanding in this format and is already representing India regularly. I believe it’s only a matter of time before he takes over as captain.”
Vijaykumar Vyshak’s remarks come at a time when Shreyas Iyer’s profile in Indian cricket continues to rise, backed by leadership success across franchises and growing responsibilities with the national side.
“He maintains a relaxed atmosphere around the group and treats everyone equally, whether it’s Ricky Ponting, me, or anyone else. That approach has made things easier for us. I feel comfortable approaching him anytime—his door is always open,” he explained.
Under Ricky Ponting, Shreyas Iyer led the Punjab Kings to their first IPL final in over a decade. He earlier captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024 and guided Delhi Capitals to their maiden final in 2020, along with a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win with Mumbai. Following strong domestic returns, Shreyas Iyer was elevated to India’s ODI vice-captaincy in 2025, with Shubman Gill replacing Rohit Sharma as skipper after the Champions Trophy.
Shreyas Iyer missed a potential India captaincy stint in 2025 due to a rib injury sustained in Sydney. Yet, his batting output remained strong, leading Punjab Kings’ scoring charts and playing key roles for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals. He is leading PBKS in IPL 2026.
