Mullanpur: Amid growing speculation over Shreyas Iyer’s potential role as India’s T20I captain, former India pacer Zaheer Khan has urged the Punjab Kings skipper to first secure his place in the national side before thinking about leadership responsibilities.

Iyer has emerged as one of the standout performers in the ongoing Indian Premier League season, leading Punjab Kings with authority and consistency. Under his captaincy, Punjab Kings reached their first IPL final in 11 years in 2025, although they fell short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the title clash. The team has carried forward that momentum into the 2026 season, remaining unbeaten after six matches.

With such performances, conversations have intensified around Iyer’s return to India’s T20I squad and even the possibility of him being considered for captaincy in the shortest format.

Zaheer Khan’s advice on captaincy speculation

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Zaheer Khan emphasised that while Iyer has shown leadership qualities over the years, his immediate focus should remain on cementing his place in the Indian team.

“First, being part of the T20 setup will be on his mind. Captaincy, I am not sure if he is thinking about that right now,” Zaheer said.

He added that Iyer’s experience as a franchise captain does make him a strong contender for leadership roles in the future, but only after he re-establishes himself as a regular member of the national side.

“When you are looking at the Indian T20 setup, I think he must be thinking first and foremost of making an impact with his performances as just a player to secure a spot. Once you are in the squad, then the rest depends on how the team management looks at things,” he noted.

Interestingly, Iyer was not part of India’s squad that won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 earlier this year, making his return to the T20I setup a key objective in the coming months.

Punjab Kings’ dominant run continues

Punjab Kings have been one of the most dominant teams in IPL 2026 so far, showcasing both batting firepower and strong leadership under Iyer. Their recent match against Lucknow Super Giants further underlined their credentials as title contenders.

In a high-scoring encounter in Mullanpur, PBKS registered a commanding 54-run victory. Young batter Priyansh Arya and all-rounder Cooper Connolly played sensational knocks, scoring 93 and 87 respectively.

Their partnership of 182 runs off just 13.2 overs for the second wicket laid the foundation for Punjab’s massive total of 254/7 — the highest team score in the ongoing season.

Iyer praises team’s fearless approach

After the match, Iyer lauded the aggressive intent and composure shown by his players, particularly during the middle overs.

“Exceptional partnership, some shots were jaw-dropping. Hitting fast bowlers off the back-foot straight. Composure in the middle overs was sensational,” Iyer said during the post-match presentation.

He also revealed a light-hearted moment in the dressing room, sharing how he motivated Arya and Connolly during their innings.

“I was talking with Cooper and Arya, said let’s compete for the most number of sixes. The prize is my bat. It doesn’t make sense but I hope it makes us happy,” he said.

Highlighting the team’s philosophy, Iyer added, “When you let players be, I think they just deliver. That’s our mantra.”

Focus remains key for national comeback

While Iyer’s leadership credentials continue to impress in franchise cricket, Zaheer Khan’s remarks underline a crucial reality of international selection — consistent individual performance remains the primary criterion.

With India’s T20 setup evolving and competition for places intensifying, Iyer’s immediate challenge lies in translating his IPL form into a strong case for national selection.

If he succeeds in doing so, the discussion around captaincy may naturally follow. Until then, as Zaheer suggests, the priority remains clear — secure a spot first, and let leadership opportunities come in due course.