Irfan Pathan has confidence in Shreyas Iyer, he can again take Punjab Kings to new heights in IPL 2026

New Delhi . Shreyas Iyer is once again in the center of headlines in the Indian Premier League, and this time the discussion is more about his leadership and consistency than his form. Irfan Pathan has clearly expressed confidence that Iyer will perform spectacularly for Punjab Kings in the upcoming season also. Iyer, who took the team to the final in IPL 2025, is now going to enter 2026 with the intention of winning the trophy.

Iyer’s performance last season was very impressive. He scored 604 runs in 17 innings, with an average of 50.33 and strike rate of 175.07. He was the team’s most successful batsman with six half-centuries and became the sixth highest run-scorer in the entire tournament. His captaincy gave a new identity to the Punjab Kings, who were previously known for often unstable performances.

Irfan Pathan described Iyer as a “proven cricketer” and said that he does not need to use IPL as a platform to make a comeback in the T20 International team. According to him, Iyer has already proved his ability for the Indian team and his role is very important especially in ODI cricket. Pathan believes that his performance in the Indian Premier League will only further strengthen his quality.

Pathan especially remembered Iyer’s inning of 87* against Mumbai Indians, in which he almost single-handedly turned the match in 41 balls while chasing the target of 204 runs. His confidence and technique against a world class bowler like Jasprit Bumrah in that innings was worth seeing. The shot of Bumrah gliding the yorker ball towards third man is still fresh in the minds of cricket lovers.

Now in IPL 2026, Punjab Kings will start against Gujarat Titans from March 21. Both the team and the fans hope that Iyer can maintain his previous form and lead the team to the title this time. The special thing is that Iyer has already won a trophy for a team as captain in 2024, which further strengthens the confidence in his leadership.

Overall, Shreyas Iyer is emerging as an important player not only for Punjab Kings but also for the future of Indian cricket. The confidence that an experienced cricketer like Irfan Pathan has in him is an indication that the coming season can prove to be even more special for Iyer.