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It seems like captaincy suits Shreyas Iyer quite a bit as after leading the Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the IPL 2025 final, the 30-year-old has taken the Sobo Mumbai Falcons to the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 Mumbai League. Iyer's leadership skills first came into prominence when he guided the Delhi Capitals to their first-ever IPL final back in IPL 2020/21 against the Mumbai Indians.
Later, his services got acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of IPL 2022 and they appointed him as captain right away. Iyer went on to lead the Kolkata-based franchise to their third IPL title in the 2024 season and this is where he emerged as a fine leader.
Iyer was excellent as PBKS' captain during IPL 2025
After not getting retained by KKR ahead of IPL 2025, Iyer was signed by PBKS for a whopping fee of INR 26.75 crore in the mega auction. He was appointed as the captain in his first-ever season with the franchise and it is safe to say that he didn't disappoint. The 30-year-old starred with both the bat and his captaincy as PBKS made it to their first IPL final in 11 years. However, they eventually came up short against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who defeated them at the Narendra Modi stadium.
After captaining the Sobo Mumbai Falcons to the semi-finals of the T20 Mumbai League, Iyer expressed his thoughts on captaincy and stated that it helps in making a player more mature.
"It (captaincy) brings in a lot of maturity and responsibility. Look, anyone can be called. Anyone can be called if they are in good form. We could only pick 18, and the chairman-selector has already answered that question. For me, I think it's always about being open to people who are in good form and who can come and deliver," Iyer said after a T20 Mumbai League match.
"You are always expected to perform and contribute in the best way possible for the team because whenever there is a hurdle or some kind of adversity you face as a team, they always come to the captain. I think I have got a lot of experience as I have been captaining since I was 22. I have enjoyed the moments and also embraced it. I love the fact that I can come out and lead," he added.
Iyer also highlighted the importance of the T20 Mumbai League and praised the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) for their efforts of identifying talents performing at the grassroots level in Mumbai.
"The MCA has put in great efforts to bring this league and identify the talents who have been consistently performing in the grassroots of Mumbai. This gives them a great platform to come and express themselves and also to thrive beyond club cricket," Iyer stated.
Iyer was among the top performers for PBKS in IPL 2025 and played a major role in taking the side to the final. He was the highest run-getter for the Punjab-based franchise during the season, accumulating a total of 604 runs in 17 matches and striking the ball at an impressive rate of 175.07. The 30-year-old also did a commendable job as captain and successfully showcased his brilliant leadership skills.
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