India's next T20I captain? 'Self-aware' Shreyas Iyer breathing down Suryakumar's neck

NEW CHANDIGARH: Shreyas Iyer first tasted IPL captaincy in turbulent circumstances. In an awkward press conference midway through the 2018 season, flanked by head coach Ricky Ponting, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) stalwart Gautam Gambhir stood down owing to woeful form and the team’s embarrassing run. Gambhir announced Iyer as his successor.

Iyer went on to blossom as a captain and a batter under Ponting at Capitals before moving to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022, when the Delhi franchise shifted leadership to Rishabh Pant. He reunited with Gambhir at KKR in 2024 and guided the franchise to the IPL title. The triumph saw Gambhir graduate to India’s head coach within a month, and Iyer depart the franchise.

Even as Gambhir went into overdrive to reshape India’s T20I setup, Iyer remained out of contention. Turbulence has followed his career despite sustained consistency. Now reunited with Ponting at Punjab Kings — both nursing scars from their Capitals exit — Iyer is stirring a campaign that could knock on the door of Gambhir’s champion T20 unit.

On Sunday evening here, Iyer will come up against Pant, now leading Lucknow Super Giants and fighting an uphill battle to reclaim his India spot after being sidelined post the triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in 2024.

But Iyer’s race is no longer against Pant. World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav’s prolonged slump has triggered one of the trickiest phases for Gambhir and the selection committee.

Sources told TOI that Iyer is the most obvious replacement for Surya if and when selectors decide to move on. His authority at No. 4 in T20 cricket is unmatched in Indian cricket at present. The selectors showed little leniency with Pant and Shubman Gill in the format. But conviction around Surya’s successor — particularly as captain — remains key.

“Iyer last played a T20I in 2023. He has not been part of the current setup. It’s a big call to bring him back and hand him the captaincy straightaway,” a BCCI source told TOI. “The focus has shifted towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, which has given selectors breathing space to plan for a T20I leadership transition.”

At Punjab Kings, Iyer has been branded the sarpanch. His swagger and carefree demeanour fit the aura. It stems from self-awareness. Bowling coach James Hopes, a Ponting mainstay since their Capitals days, has witnessed a flamboyant 23-year-old evolve into a 31-year-old leader in complete command.

“He’s very aware of what his perceived weaknesses were over the years. He’s come into this season having really nailed them. When he got hurt in Australia (in Oct last year), he was starting to nailing them in international cricket as well,” Hopes said here on Saturday. “Once he finds his way back into the Indian team, you’ll see the batter he’s going to be for the rest of his career. Captaincy improves his batting,” Hopes added.