From being dropped from central contracts to emerging as one of India’s strongest leadership candidates—Shreyas Iyer’s redemption arc is the stuff of cricketing folklore. Leading Punjab Kings (PBKS) to their second successive IPL final, Iyer has now officially been named as a contender for India’s white-ball captaincy.
A senior Indian cricket official confirmed to Indian Express that Iyer is now being seriously considered across formats. “We can’t keep him out of T20Is or Tests anymore. He’s officially in the white-ball captaincy race,” the official stated.
From Snubbed to Spotlight
It wasn’t long ago that Iyer was left out of the BCCI central contracts list, raising serious doubts about his future. Released by KKR after a championship win in 2024 and missing out on India’s Test and T20I plans, the odds seemed stacked against him.
Yet, he responded the only way champions do—on the field. He kept piling on runs in the domestic circuit for Mumbai and led the team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before taking up the reins at PBKS.
The Rise of ‘Sarpanch Sahab’
In IPL 2025, Iyer became the heartbeat of a resurgent Punjab side. Fans and teammates nicknamed him “Sarpanch Sahab” for his calm but authoritative style of leadership.
His defining moment came in the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians. Facing a fiery Jasprit Bumrah, Iyer counter-attacked with a jaw-dropping 87* off 41 balls, sealing a 204-run chase in style.
A Test, T20 Comeback on the Cards?
Though Punjab didn’t lift the trophy, Iyer’s leadership, consistency, and grit have made selectors rethink their strategy. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Tests, and new faces being tried across formats, Iyer now finds himself at the doorstep of a major comeback—this time, possibly as a leader of the pack.
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