Shreyas Iyer One of the most compelling names in cricket at the moment. The way he has dominated the IPL has reignited calls from fans and pundits alike for India to return to the T20I setup. But the rise isn’t built on just one standout season. Over the past few years, since accepting the demands of captaincy, Iyer has shown not only what a capable leader he can be, but also as a batsman who has dominated seasons 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 their first IPL final. That season, Iyer also played an important role with the bat, scoring 519 runs in 17 innings at a strike rate of 123.27. Soon after, when he captained the 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 Punjab Kings, and the team reached the final for the first time in 11 years. That season proved to be a career-defining one for Ayer, as he displayed his most explosive batting, scoring 604 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 175.07.A common factor in his leadership is that he not only guides his teammates but also contributes himself, be it in the field or with the bat, taking the pressure off in tight matches. In Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians last year, he single-handedly dominated the chase, even hitting the world’s best bowler Jasprit Bumrah for a six with absolute authority.
form of struggle Surya Kumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav, 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 also holds the record for most wins by an Indian T20I captain (minimum 20 matches). In 52 matches as captain, he led India to 40 wins, 8 losses and 2 draws.However, concerns over his leadership revolve around his age and recent decline in batting form. He scored 242 runs in the five-match home series against New Zealand in early 2026, breaking Virat Kohli’s previous record of 231 runs. He also completed 1,000 T20I runs as India’s captain during the match-winning 84 (49) against the USA in the 2026 T20 World Cup.But in ICC tournaments, his contribution with the bat has been relatively limited. In Asia Cup 2025 he scored only 72 runs in 7 matches and in T20 World Cup 2026 he scored 242 runs in 9 innings. Despite India winning the World Cup, his strike rate of 136.72 was the lowest among Indian batsmen in the tournament, and he struggled in the knockout stages, including a wicket in the final against New Zealand.In IPL 2025, he emerged as the MVP, scoring 717 runs in 16 matches. However, in the ongoing IPL season, his numbers have dipped, scoring just 121 runs in 6 matches so far. His most recent outing against Punjab Kings on 16 April resulted in a golden duck, where he was dismissed by Arsdeep Singh and against Gujarat Titans on Monday, he started well, but was bowled out by 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 this time Suryakumar Yadav will be 38 years old. Rajat Patidarare pushing for opportunities in the middle order, meaning a continued dip in form for SKY could put his place in the next round under pressure.
Now, why does Shreyas fit into Air India’s leadership scheme?
Not only has Iyer won titles, but he has consistently performed in different formats and with different teams and players, making him one of the best.However, Iyer will face stiff competition from other players in the T20 setup. Patidar, who led RCB to the title in his first season after an 18-year wait, also impressed both with the bat and leadership. Akshar Patel, who serves as India’s vice-captain, is also in the running for the leadership, although his recent form has dipped. Sanju Samson, who has a regular place in the T20I setup, is another strong contender, having played important innings in big matches.What makes Iyer unique among them is their consistency over the years. He performed consistently with the bat and delivered results as a leader. In the 2024-2026 season, Shreyas Iyer has won widespread appreciation from the cricketing community for his tactical maturity and leadership flexibility, especially after guiding three different franchises to the IPL finals.Expert recommendations on leadershipAnil Kumble: Highlighting the difficulty of turning over franchises and taking them to the finals immediately, called him “definitely an underrated captain”, a feat Iyer achieved in his first season leading PBKS to the 2025 finals.Ricky Ponting: The PBKS head coach said Iyer has “taken his game to another level” and described him as a leader who has fully matured both personally and tactically.Brad Hayden: Noting his unique record of leading three different teams (DC, KKR, PBKS) to the IPL final, hailed him as a “game changer” who truly cares about his players.Recently, Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted how Shreyas Iyer’s red-hot form is fueling his captaincy.“Just the calmness that he’s creating around the team, to say, we’re going to have a brotherly talk. It’s a brotherhood here. At the end of the day, I’ve played in teams where there’s always that layer that you can’t… You’re not able to just go to the captain or the coach and say, ‘I’ll provide this for you’. And that’s what happened.” Just the fact that he kept it simple like it’s being done in your street or back home at your tennis ball game, where we do it all the time with our captain or our friend. That environment is amazing. And I think the way he’s batting, he’s growing into a leader that players are looking for, which is a lethal combination,” Ashwin said.Shreyas Iyer’s rise as both a batsman and captain makes him the strongest contender to return to India’s T20I setup for the next T20I World Cup cycle and the leadership scheme. While Suryakumar Yadav is the current leader, Iyer’s combination of consistent performance, proven team captaincy, and ability to handle pressure situations puts him in a strong position for the future.
