'A lethal combination': Ashwin lauds Shreyas Iyer’s red-hot form fueling his captaincy
Ravichandran Ashwin lauded Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, noting his evolution into a trusted leader. Iyer's ability to foster a 'brotherhood' within the Punjab Kings, coupled with his exceptional batting form, has propelled the team to the top of the IPL 2026 table. His consistent performances and hunger for improvement are making him a formidable force.
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has heaped praise on Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer, highlighting his evolution as both a batter and a leader over the past two years. Ashwin believes Iyer is steadily growing into a captain whom players trust and look up to, crediting his leadership style and consistent performances with the bat as key factors behind Punjab’s success. Iyer’s leadership journey gained prominence last season when he guided PBKS to their first IPL final in 11 years.
His standout knock of an unbeaten 87 off 41 balls against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 not only underlined his batting class but also showcased his ability to deliver under pressure. The win marked PBKS’ first-ever successful 200-plus chase against Mumbai in IPL history. This season, Iyer has carried that momentum forward.
With four wins in five matches (along with one washout), Punjab Kings currently sit atop the IPL 2026 points table. Creating a ‘Brotherhood’ Culture Ashwin pointed out that Iyer’s biggest strength as a captain lies in the environment he has created within the team. "Just the comfort that he is creating around the team, to say, we will have a brotherly conversation.
It's a brotherhood here. At the end of the day, I have played in teams where there is always that layer that you can't... You are just not able to go up to the captain or the coach and say, 'I will deliver this for you'.