‘Deadly combination’: Ashwin praises Iyer’s sizzling form for providing impetus to his captaincy

former indian offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin Full of praise for Kings XI Punjab captain Shreyas Iyerhighlighting his evolution as a hitter and leader over the past two years. Ashwin believes Iyer is steadily growing into a captain who is trusted and respected by his players, citing his leadership style and consistent performance with the bat as key factors in Punjab’s success.Iyer’s leadership journey came into limelight last season when he guided PBKS to their first IPL final in 11 years. His superb performance of an unbeaten 41-ball 87 against Mumbai Indians in the second qualifying match not only highlighted his batting prowess but also showcased his ability to deliver under pressure. The win marked PBKS’ first successful victory over Mumbai in IPL history.This season, Iyer has taken that momentum forward. Kings XI Punjab are currently on top of the IPL 2026 points table with 4 wins from 5 matches (one of which was eliminated).Create a culture of “brotherhood”Ashwin pointed out that Iyer’s biggest strength as captain is the environment he creates within the team. Ashwin told ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show: “He created a comfort around the team that we were going to have a brotherly conversation. There was a brotherhood here. At the end of the day, in the teams I played for, there was always that layer that you just couldn’t do… You just couldn’t go up to the captain or the coach and say, ‘I’m going to give you this’. And that’s what happened.”“The fact that he has kept it simple, just like in your gully or your hometown tennis match, we have always done that with our captain or our friends. That atmosphere is amazing. I think the way he is batting, he is growing into a leader role that the players look up to, it is a lethal combination,” Ashwin added. Iyer’s excellent batting form has further enhanced his captaincy. The right-hander has scored 203 runs in five games this season at a strike rate of 187.96, including scores of 50, 69* and 66 in the last three innings.According to Ashwin, Iyer’s presence at the crease is now scary to the bowlers.“His sheer presence (at the crease) is intimidating to bowlers in so many ways. How does he do it? His desire to improve his skills is phenomenal. I have been playing cricket for a long time. I have interacted with a lot of cricketers and not many are willing to leave their areas of expertise to explore areas where they are weak. You see a lot of careers where people succeed where they don’t work on their weaknesses. Not at all,” he concluded.