Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has backed Shreyas Iyer as one of the finest captains in IPL history, saying the Punjab Kings skipper could even go past legends like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir if he manages to win another IPL title with a different franchise.
Speaking to JioHotstar, Pathan praised Iyer’s remarkable consistency as a leader across franchises and highlighted how the stylish right-hander has achieved something no other captain in the history of the tournament has managed to do — take three different teams to the IPL final.
“Shreyas Iyer, who has taken three franchises to the final and won it with KKR. One more trophy; if he wins it with Punjab, he will surpass everyone,” Pathan said.
Pathan stressed that Iyer’s captaincy success becomes even more significant because he has adapted to completely different team environments, dressing rooms and cultures while continuing to produce results.
“On that list of MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir, I feel Shreyas Iyer has to be right up there among the best captains. It is not easy to take three different franchises to the finals. Each franchise is different; their culture, setup, and their mindset is completely different. To adjust to those things and then lead the way forward is not easy. No one has ever done it,” Pathan added.
The former India all-rounder also drew comparisons between Iyer and some of the IPL’s most decorated captains, pointing out that Dhoni, Rohit and Gambhir achieved most of their title-winning success with a single franchise.
“MS Dhoni won all five trophies with CSK, and it is not that he has not played for any other franchise. Similarly, Rohit Sharma has won all his trophies as captain with MI, and Gautam Gambhir did it for KKR in those two seasons,” he said.
Iyer’s rise as a leader has been one of the standout stories in recent IPL seasons. After taking Delhi Capitals to their maiden IPL final in 2020, the Mumbai batter ended Kolkata Knight Riders’ long wait for a title by guiding them to the championship in 2024. He then continued his impressive captaincy run by leading Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final in their first season under him, although the side eventually lost the title clash to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Punjab Kings have once again emerged as one of the strongest teams this season under Iyer’s leadership. The side currently sits at the top of the IPL points table with 13 points from nine matches and looks firmly on course for a playoff spot.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– Ends
