Irfan Pathan Recognizes Shreyas Iyer as Elite IPL Captain
Irfan Pathan Praises Shreyas Iyer's Leadership Skills
New Delhi [India] - Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has commended Shreyas Iyer, the captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS), for his exceptional leadership qualities, placing him alongside renowned IPL captains like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir.
Iyer, who previously led Delhi Capitals (DC) to the IPL finals in 2020 and secured the title with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2024, is now focused on steering PBKS towards success in IPL 2026. Currently, under his guidance, PBKS is leading the points table after nine matches.
This season, the 31-year-old has accumulated 328 runs, making him the second-highest scorer for PBKS, just behind opener Prabhsimran Singh, who has scored 361 runs.
In their next IPL match on Wednesday, PBKS will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), entering the game after suffering two consecutive losses, which adds pressure on their captain.
During an appearance on JioStar's 'TATA IPL: Out or Not Out', Pathan highlighted Iyer's versatility and leadership across different franchises.
"When you think of MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir, Shreyas Iyer deserves to be mentioned among the top captains. Leading three distinct franchises to the finals is no small feat. Each team has its unique culture and mindset, and adapting to these while leading is a significant challenge. No one else has achieved this," Pathan remarked.
Iyer stands out as the only player to have led three different IPL teams to the finals: first with Delhi Capitals in 2020, then winning the championship with KKR in 2024, and guiding PBKS to their second IPL final in 2025, where they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Pathan further compared Iyer to the most successful IPL captains, stating, "MS Dhoni has won all five titles with CSK, and he has not played for any other team. Similarly, Rohit Sharma has secured all his titles with MI, and Gautam Gambhir achieved it with KKR. In contrast, Shreyas Iyer has led three franchises to the finals and won with KKR."
Pathan concluded by asserting that if Iyer clinches the IPL trophy with Punjab Kings this year, he will surpass all others in the league's history.