PBKS assistant coach Brad Haddin reminisced about Shreyas Iyer’s heroic performance in the Qualifier 2 match against Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad.
Shreyas Iyer’s Rise as a Contender for India’s White-Ball Captaincy
Shreyas Iyer may have narrowly missed out on leading Punjab Kings to IPL 2025 glory, falling just six runs short against champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, on a personal level, the India star gained significant momentum. After captaining two different franchises to consecutive IPL finals—Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, who won the title, and Punjab Kings in 2025—Iyer has emerged as a strong contender to succeed Rohit Sharma as India’s white-ball captain.
While the BCCI has yet to officially comment on this potential transition, India’s upcoming ODI series in Bangladesh will be a key stage. Meanwhile, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is increasingly reminded of why Iyer could be the ideal leadership choice for India’s limited-overs future.
‘Shreyas Iyer hasn’t gotten credit’
Haddin recalled the Qualifier 2 clash against Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad. Despite all analytics and conditions favoring batting first, Iyer surprised everyone by insisting they bowl first. Confident in his leadership, he promised to lead the team to victory. The gamble paid off spectacularly as Iyer’s match-winning unbeaten 87 off 41 balls helped Punjab Kings chase down a stiff target of 204 with an over to spare, securing their first IPL final appearance since 2014.