'A lethal combination': Ashwin lauds Shreyas Iyer’s red-hot form fueling his captaincy

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'. And it's happened,'' Ashwin said on ESPNcricinfo's TimeOut programme.

"Just the fact that he has kept it simple like how it is being done in your gully or in your tennis-ball game back home, where we do this all the time with our captain or with our friend. That atmosphere is amazing. And I think the way he is batting, he is growing into the role of a leader that the players are looking up to, which is a lethal combination," Ashwin added.

Iyer’s excellent batting form has further strengthened his captaincy. The right-hander has scored 203 runs in five matches this season at a blistering strike rate of 187.96, including scores of 50, 69* and 66 in his last three innings.

According to Ashwin, Iyer’s presence at the crease is now intimidating bowlers.

"His sheer presence (at the crease) is terrifying the bowlers in many ways. And how has he done that? His appetite to be able to upskill himself is sensational. I've played cricket for quite an amount of time. I've interacted with a lot of cricketers, not many have the appetite to be able to leave what they're good at and explore areas where they're weak. You would have seen a lot of careers pan out where people have not worked on their weaknesses at all," he concluded.