How Shreyas Iyer’s red-hot form is fueling his rise in India’s T20I leadership scheme

In the past few years, since embracing the demands of captaincy, Iyer has not only shown how able a leader he can be, but also as a batter who has dominated seasons while balancing the dual roles of anchor and aggressor. In IPL 2020, he was the captain of Delhi Capitals, and under his leadership, the team reached its first IPL final. In that season, Iyer contributed significantly with the bat as well, scoring 519 runs in 17 innings at a strike rate of 123.

27. Soon after, when 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.

That season turned out to be career-defining for Iyer, as he delivered his most explosive batting performance, accumulating 604 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 175. 07. One common factor in his leadership is that he not only guides his teammates but also contributes himself, whether on the field or with the bat, relieving pressure in tight matches.

Last year in Qualifier 2 against the Mumbai Indians, he single-handedly dominated the chase, even hitting the world’s best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, for a six with complete authority. 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 T20 World Cup 2026 title and the Asia Cup 2025 title, and he also holds the record for the highest win percentage among Indian T20I captains (minimum 20 matches).