Shreyas Iyer may have ended up on the losing side in the IPL 2025 final but in terms of personal and professional growth - few have had a better season.
After leading Punjab Kings to their first IPL final in over a decade, Iyer’s name has surged so much that top voices within Indian cricket now see him as a serious contender for national captaincy across formats.
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How did Shreyas Iyer go from being sidelined to center stage?
Not long ago, Iyer was without a central contract and had fallen out of favour in both Tests and T20Is. Kolkata Knight Riders had let him go despite him leading them to the 2024 title.
Questions about his fitness and form had left him on the margins. But Iyer didn’t sulk; he went back to domestic cricket, put in the work for Mumbai and kept his gameplay sharp in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
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His turnaround caught everyone’s eye during IPL 2025. An Indian cricket official told The Indian Express,
"Right now he just plays ODIs, but after this IPL we can’t keep him out of T20 internationals and even Tests. Plus he also has now officially joined the white-ball captaincy race."
Why are fans calling Shreyas Iyer the 'Sarpanch' of Punjab Kings?
Taking charge of the often-underperforming Punjab Kings, Iyer brought calm authority and connection. Fans began calling him "Sarpanch Sahab," charmed by his composed leadership and match-winning intent.
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His standout moment was in the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians - where he took on Jasprit Bumrah in a brilliant unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls - guiding PBKS to a 200+ chase with ease.
Whether or not he becomes the captain soon, he has made sure his name is no longer an afterthought in leadership discussions.