Shreyas Iyer is making all the right noise with both bat and leadership. After a sensational performance for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he finished as India’s leading run-scorer, Iyer carried his form into the IPL 2025 season with Punjab Kings. The Mumbai-born right-hander amassed 604 runs in 17 matches, showcasing class, consistency, and composure under pressure.
Apart from his batting exploits, Iyer drew praise for leading Punjab Kings to their first IPL final since 2014. Though his side narrowly missed the title against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Iyer’s strategic acumen and calm leadership did not go unnoticed. As per The Indian Express (June 7 report), Iyer has now officially entered India’s white-ball captaincy race.
“He just plays ODIs right now, but after this IPL, we can’t ignore him for T20Is or even Tests. He’s officially in the white-ball captaincy mix now,” a top BCCI decision-maker was quoted saying.
Iyer, who already has 14 Tests, 70 ODIs, and 51 T20Is under his belt, has not captained India in any format yet. However, after guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title in 2024 and almost repeating the feat with Punjab Kings in 2025, selectors are beginning to view him as a long-term leadership option.
Interestingly, Iyer was snubbed for India’s Test squad against England despite the recent retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The omission, particularly given his experience and recent form, surprised many. Fans expected him to be a strong contender in the middle-order rebuilding phase.
For now, Iyer is plying his trade with SoBo Mumbai Falcons in T20 Mumbai 2025, but his next international assignment is just around the corner. He is set to return to India colours in August 2025, when the Men in Blue tour Bangladesh for a three-match ODI and three-match T20I series.
If his current trajectory continues, Shreyas Iyer could soon be seen leading India in white-ball cricket, with a possible Test recall not far behind. His recent performances prove he is more than ready for the next step.
