If you’ve been watching IPL 2026, you already know that Shreyas Iyer is not only playing well, he’s playing like he has a goal. This 31-year-old Mumbai batter is making headlines, breaking records, and quietly making the case that he should be at the very top of Indian cricket, not just in the IPL. Let’s talk about why everyone in India should be paying attention to Shreyas Iyer at the moment.
What Is He Up to in IPL 2026?
In his last three innings in IPL 2026 Shreyas Iyer has scored 50, 69*, and 66 runs. He did all of this while under pressure, chasing huge totals. He played a captain’s innings of 66 runs off 35 balls against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on April 16. He hit 5 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 188.57. His 139-run partnership with Prabhsimran Singh set the stage for a strong eight-wicket win. Asianet Newsable: Earlier in the season, Iyer scored an unbeaten 69 runs off 33 balls while chasing a huge 220 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. This kept the Punjab Kings at the top of the IPL 2026 table. Yardbarker: What’s amazing is not just the runs he gets, but how he gets them. Stay calm, bat smart, and finish games like a champ.
His strike rate is the third highest of the 22 batters who have scored more than 500 runs in the IPL since the start of 2025. Only Abhishek Sharma and his teammate Priyansh Arya have higher strike rates. His average during this time is also one of the best, behind only Virat Kohli and Jos Buttler. ESPN
Why is this important for India’s future?
The thing is, Shreyas Iyer doesn’t get to play T20Is for India very often. But his IPL stats make it clear that he should. He was the top run-scorer for PBKS in IPL 2025, with 604 runs, 6 fifties, an average of 50.33, and a strike rate of 175.07 in 17 matches. Asianet Newsable: His leadership is just as impressive. Iyer has now taken three different teams to the IPL finals: the Delhi Capitals in 2020, the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and the Punjab Kings in 2025. No other IPL captain has ever taken more than one team to the finals. ESPNcricinfo That is a record that no one can take away from him.
He was India’s best batter at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he scored the second-most runs in the tournament. This shows that he can perform well on the international stage as well. IPLT20
What’s Next? Will Shreyas Be Able to Join India’s T20I Team?
Fans and cricket fans have been very vocal in their support for Shreyas Iyer to be India’s T20I captain. They praise his strategic thinking and consistent performances in the IPL. Asianet Newsable: Aaron Finch, a former captain of Australia, said it best. He said that Shreyas is “a good player not just in Indian conditions but all around the world,” which is especially important because the next T20 World Cup will be in Australia. He also said that it would be hard for Iyer to break in right away since India just won the T20 World Cup for the second time in a row. ESPN
The people who choose will have to make hard decisions. But Shreyas Iyer is making it impossible to ignore with this kind of consistent form.
The end
Shreyas Iyer is more than just a great IPL player; he’s a born leader, a proven match-winner, and a batter who steps up when it counts. Iyer is doing everything right, whether it’s chasing totals of more than 200 or keeping the Punjab Kings at the top of the table. People are confident about the future of Indian cricket, and Shreyas Iyer is a big part of that. Do you think Shreyas Iyer should always be on India’s T20I team? Please tell us in the comments below!
