'India’s loss, not Iyer’s': Ashwin endorses Shreyas Iyer as next contender for India's T20I leadership
Shreyas Iyer's stellar form and leadership for Punjab Kings have earned him strong backing from Ravichandran Ashwin for India's T20I captaincy. Iyer's third consecutive half-century, a match-winning 66 against Mumbai Indians, highlighted his prowess as a dangerous chaser. His all-round impact, including a brilliant catch, further solidifies his credentials as a future leader.
Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer continues to strengthen his case as a future contendor 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 Iyer Iyer’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.