Shreyas Iyer remains a leading contender for India's full-time T20 captaincy, with a crucial opportunity awaiting him next month when he is set to lead the national side in England. His Punjab Kings teammate Vyshak Vijaykumar has backed the right-hander's leadership credentials, praising his man-management skills and suggesting that a successful stint could further strengthen his claim for the role.
Iyer's Captaincy Opportunity
Iyer was handed the captaincy of India's T20I squad after the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee decided to move on from Suryakumar Yadav earlier this month. This decision has placed Iyer in the spotlight as a potential long-term leader for the team in the shortest format.
Vyshak Vijaykumar's Praise
Vyshak, who has played under Iyer's leadership for two seasons at Punjab Kings, highlighted the captain's ability to treat everyone equally. "The way he treats everybody equally, that is the biggest thing because youngsters will be under a lot of pressure. So, the way you handle them, speak to them, makes a lot of difference," Vyshak told PTI.
He added, "The IPL is a tough competition, and Indian players are the ones who are going to win the tournament for you. So, the way he handled all the Indian players, uncapped players, was calming and a lot of learnings for me and everyone, and it makes him a good leader."
Iyer's Growth as a Leader
Having joined Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2025, Vyshak has observed Iyer's evolution closely. "From the first time that I have seen him in 2025, he has matured so much as a captain and player. Every day he is bringing new things on the table and every day he is eagerly wanting to try it out," Vyshak said.
He continued, "He has this fire and aura that he carries every time he goes into the field, as he wants to win it no matter what. The way he handles himself and everybody in the team is such a pleasure."
Support from Iyer
The 29-year-old pacer, who featured in 10 matches this season, also credited Iyer for backing him consistently. "I've always told myself that every time I play, I want to improve at least 1%. Every time I go to practise, I want to improve 1%. So, that has been the motto for me," Vyshak explained.
He added, "This year IPL was a very good opportunity for me because last year I could not play as much. But now I feel very happy that I got more opportunities to showcase my bowling skills. With Shreyas being there, he has guided me so much and always given me confidence, saying no matter what, don't worry, just back yourself, and we are there to back you."
Leadership Contention
While Iyer has emerged as a strong candidate for the permanent T20 captaincy, fellow batter Tilak Verma also remains firmly in contention as India weighs its long-term leadership options in the shortest format.
