IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer will be India captain soon, Vijaykumar Vyshak backs PBKS skipper

Impressed by Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, Vijaykumar Vyshak has backed him as a future India skipper. The PBKS pacer praised Iyer’s composure under pressure and growing authority during the IPL, adding that his impact extends beyond on-field tactics, with his dressing-room presence further strengthening his case for national leadership.

Iyer’s consistent performances in the Indian Premier League and the domestic circuit have already earned him the vice-captaincy role in India’s ODI setup.

“I think he’s someone who has always backed his bowlers and players. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been doing well or not, that is something very important for a bowler,” Vyshak told India Today during a roundtable press meeting. “He’s done exceptionally well in this format and has been playing for India. I’m sure he’ll be the Indian captain soon.”

Vyshak’s comments come against the backdrop of Iyer’s growing stature in Indian cricket, where his leadership credentials have been strengthened by success across multiple franchises and domestic teams, along with increased responsibilities in the national setup.

“He is someone who keeps the environment very light. He speaks to all the players in the same way, whether it is Ricky Ponting, me, or anybody else. That is something that has made us more comfortable. I can go and talk to him whenever. I mean, his door is always open. He doesn’t lock his door,” he elaborated.

IYER’S EXPLOITS AS A CAPTAIN

Under the guidance of multiple World Cup-winning former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Shreyas Iyer led Punjab Kings to the final of the IPL last season, an achievement the franchise had not managed for over a decade. Prior to that, Iyer guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title in 2024, while also leading the Delhi Capitals to their maiden final in 2020. Additionally, he captained Mumbai to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy success in 2024.

On the back of his domestic exploits, and following the management’s decision to move away from Rohit Sharma and elevate his deputy Shubman Gill to the captaincy role after the Champions Trophy triumph, Iyer was appointed vice-captain of India’s ODI side in 2025.

In fact, Iyer was set to lead India during South Africa’s tour of India in 2025 in Gill’s absence. However, a left rib cage injury, sustained during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney while completing a spectacular catch to dismiss Alex Carey, ruled him out of what would have been his first assignment as India captain.

Importantly, the Mumbai batter has not let his captaincy responsibilities affect his contributions with the bat. He top-scored for Punjab Kings with 604 runs at an average of 50.33 last season, while also scoring 351 runs in Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL-winning campaign in 2024. For Delhi Capitals, during their run to the 2020 final, Iyer amassed 519 runs.

VYSHAK’S INDIA ASPIRATIONS

With strong backing from both his IPL franchise and the Karnataka state team, Vyshak has evolved significantly as a bowler, adding new variations and sharpening his skills. His effectiveness at death is something Punjab Kings have increasingly relied on this season.

“I seriously think that whatever you’ve been practising and doing right will reflect in your performances as well,” Vyshak added, speaking about his evolution in the ongoing IPL season.

He also credited his development to the support system within the Karnataka State Cricket Association. Despite the team not enjoying great success this domestic season, Vyshak believes the experience contributed significantly to his growth.

“Thankfully, I have some nice coaches back home. I also draw inspiration from my Karnataka seniors who have been doing really well, so I keep talking to them whenever I have doubts,” he said. “Even though we didn’t qualify in the domestic season, I gained a lot of confidence and did what I was supposed to do.”

He now aims to maintain consistency, break into the Indian side, and eventually earn a spot in the Test team. Notably, after just two matches in the IPL 2026 season, the fast bowler has already matched his wicket tally from last season with five scalps.

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