In front of a roaring crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Punjab Kings (PBKS) scripted a historic chase to confirm their spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) final as they toppled Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Qualifier 2.Â
The architect of the victory? Shreyas Iyer. Calm, composed, and supremely calculated under pressure, Iyer led from the front with an unbeaten 87 runs off 41 balls, taking PBKS to the target of 204 runs with an over to spare.
This brought PBKS to their first IPL final since 2014, but for Shreyas Iyer, it is history of another kind. With this result, he became the first player to captain three different teams into IPL finals, Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2024, and now Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2025. This has reignited conversations about Iyer’s leadership credentials on the international stage.
Also read: From BCCI Snub to IPL Finals: Shreyas Iyer’s Comeback
Robin Uthappa Predicts Shreyas Iyer Will Captain India in Multiple FormatsÂ
Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa did not hold back his admiration for Iyer, posting on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the match.
Predicting Iyer’s future, Uthappa said that the former will lead India in multiple formats at the international level. This is not something surprising as after Iyer’s heroics last night, cricket fanatics in every nook and corner hold the same opinion. Uthappa wrote:
"I’ve said this time and again and I’ll say it AGAIN!! Iyer will captain India in multiple formats!! He has to!! He’s that good!! 🫡🫠"
Uthappa’s endorsement is not without merit. Iyer has shown time and again that he thrives in leadership roles. At Delhi, he transformed an underachieving team into finalists. With KKR, he won the title, leading the franchise to a trophy after almost a decade.
And this season at Punjab Kings, a franchise often dogged by instability, he brought consistency and belief. Each campaign has had its own narrative, but the constant has been Iyer’s presence at the helm.
Is There Any Weight in Robin Uthappa’s Statement?
Once touted as India’s long-term middle-order solution, Iyer found himself out of the T20 and Test setups in recent months. But this IPL campaign has seen him smash 603 runs at a strike rate nearing 176 so far.
The Indian team currently operates with different captains across formats, Rohit Sharma in ODIs, Shubman Gill in Tests, and Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is. But as the search for a unified long-term leader continues, Iyer’s name, once slipping from selectors’ radar, is now back in serious contention.Â
His performances with the bat and his composed leadership during crunch situations are making a compelling case, perhaps stronger than ever before. Whether or not the BCCI moves in that direction remains to be seen. For now, all eyes will be on the final between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as Iyer aims for another title, which will be the first for Punjab.
Also read: IPL 2025 Finals: From not making it to the playoffs for a decade to a shot at history - PBKS journey
