Following another stellar performance by Shreyas Iyer as both captain and batsman for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the ongoing IPL 2024, former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has issued a stern warning to head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
Shreyas Iyer is leading Punjab Kings from the front and is changing the entire story of his team this season. After an impressive seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on April 16, PBKS now look one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament.
Shreyas Iyer’s heroics take PBKS to top spot after crushing MI in IPL 2026
It was a completely one-sided show. Chasing a massive score of 196, Punjab Kings finished the match with seven wickets in hand in just 16.3 overs thanks to brilliant half-centuries from Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh. He completely tore apart the Mumbai Indians bowling attack and finished the match brilliantly.
Also read: After Avneet Kaur, Virat Kohli was caught red handed liking the Instagram photo of a German model, fans got angry
With this win, PBKS has now reached the top of the points table with four wins in their first five matches. The captain played a brilliant inning of 66 runs with the help of 5 fours and 4 sixes in just 35 balls against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium.
This was his third consecutive half-century this season. He is not only scoring runs but also controlling the game with complete authority. Additionally, Iyer’s impact as a captain has been widespread.
Shreyas Iyer turns Punjab Kings into fearless title contenders
After being signed for a record ₹26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, the right-handed batsman has completely changed the mindset of the franchise. Punjab Kings, who had not reached the playoffs since 2014, are now playing fearless cricket and look like real title contenders.
In IPL 2025, Mumbaikars already ended an 11-year wait by taking PBKS to the final, where they lost a close match to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Now in the current 2026 season, Iyer’s captaincy looks to be on top with better planning and strong performances.
Iyer is already the only captain to lead three different teams – PBKS, DC and KKR – in the IPL final. His win percentage is also one of the best, which shows how successful he has been as a leader. Cricket experts have been praising his captaincy style, especially how he uses his bowlers smartly and trusts the young players in big moments.
Also read: “I have become a punching bag” – Sanjiv Goenka responds to on-field argument with Rishabh Pant
Ignoring Shreyas Iyer may cause loss to Team India: Ravichandran Ashwin warns selectors
After the MI vs PBKS match, Ravichandran Ashwin has called for Iyer’s selection in India’s T20 squad and leadership group. Despite such a strong performance, Iyer is out of India’s T20 team from 2023. And Ashwin has now made it clear that ignoring a player with such form can be a big loss for the Indian cricket team.
The former Indian off-spinner also mentioned how Iyer has evolved his game, taken his strike rate to the next level, and he is still playing short balls with ease, so the selectors should not make a point of overlooking him for T20I selection.
Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “His range is extraordinary, and his levers are very good; he extends the shot to send the ball very far. Ignoring Shreyas Iyer is at your own risk. Even after doing all these things, if he is not in the scheme of things or does not fit into India’s leadership group, it is his loss, not Shreyas’s.”
