Shreyas Iyer remains one of the leading contenders to become India's full-time T20 captain, 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 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.
Vyshak Vijaykumar on Iyer's Leadership
"I think the way he treats everybody equally, that is the biggest thing because youngsters will be, obviously, under a lot of pressure. So, the way you handle them, speak to them, makes a lot of difference," Vyshak told PTI.
"The IPL is a tough competition, and, you know, 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 (from it) for me and everyone, and it makes him a good leader," he added.
Having joined Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2025, Vyshak has spent two seasons under Iyer's leadership, giving him a close look at the batter's growth both as a captain and a player.
"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."
"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 and the way he handles himself and the way he handles everybody in the team, it's such a pleasure," he said.
Iyer's Support for Vyshak
The 29-year-old pacer, who featured in 10 matches this season, also credited Iyer for backing him consistently and providing him with opportunities to showcase his abilities.
"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. That is what has been keeping me on my toes every time."
"Every day I wake up and then tell myself that I want to go and improve myself. And this year (IPL) was a very good opportunity for me because you know, last year I could not play as much."
"But now I feel very happy that I got more opportunities and I could showcase more of my bowling skills. Obviously, with Shreyas being there, he has guided me so much, and he has always given me the confidence, saying no matter what, don't worry, just back yourself, and we are there to back you," he elaborated.
"So, if you do well, there's a lot of confidence that you carry, and it should help me grow as a cricketer and individually as well," he signed off.
Captaincy Race
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.
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