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

In IPL 2025, he emerged as the MVP, scoring 717 runs in 16 matches. However, in the ongoing IPL season, his numbers have dipped, managing just 121 runs in 6 matches so far. His recent outing against Punjab Kings on April 16 resulted in a golden duck, where he was dismissed by Arshdeep Singh and against Gujarat Titans on Monday, he started well, but was cleaned up by an absolute seed from Kagiso Rabada for 15.

Looking ahead, the next major T20I event is the T20 World Cup 2028, where India will defend their title and the same year cricket will be part of the 2028 LA Olympics. By then, Suryakumar Yadav will be 38. And alongside an Iyer, players like Rajat Patidar, are pushing for opportunities in the middle-order, meaning a continued dip in form for SKY could put his place under pressure in the next cycle.

Now, Why Does Shreyas Iyer Fit in the Leadership Scheme of India?

Iyer has not only won titles but has also performed consistently across formats and with different teams and players, making him a frontrunner.

However, Iyer will face tough competition from other players in the T20 setup. Patidar, who led RCB to a title in his first season after an 18-year wait, has also impressed with both bat and leadership. Axar Patel, who has served as India’s vice-captain, is also in the leadership race, although his recent form has dipped. Sanju Samson, who has a regular place in the T20I setup, is another strong contender, having played crucial knocks in major matches.

What makes Iyer unique among them is his consistency over the years. He has continuously performed with the bat and delivered results as a leader. In the 2024-2026 seasons, Shreyas Iyer has received widespread appreciation from the cricket fraternity for his tactical maturity and leadership resilience, especially after guiding three different franchises to IPL finals.

Expert Commendations on Leadership
Anil Kumble: Termed him a "certainly underrated skipper," highlighting the difficulty of switching franchises and immediately leading them to a final, a feat Iyer achieved by taking PBKS to the 2025 final in his debut season.

Ricky Ponting: The PBKS head coach stated that Iyer has "taken his game to a whole another level" and described him as a leader who has completely matured both personally and tactically.

Brad Haddin: Lauded him as a "game-changer" who truly cares for his players, noting his unique record of leading three different teams (DC, KKR, PBKS) to IPL finals.

Recently, Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted how Shreyas Iyer’s red-hot form fueling his captaincy

"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. 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 said.

Shreyas Iyer’s rise as both a batter and a captain makes him one of the strongest contenders to make a comeback in India’s T20I setup for next T20I World Cup cycle and leadership scheme. While Suryakumar Yadav remains the current leader, the combination of Iyer’s consistent performances, proven captaincy across teams, and ability to handle pressure situations puts him in a strong position for the future.

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