Iyer’s another match-winning knock, another finals berth, prompted former India cricketer Robin Uthappa to scream on social media: ‘He has to. He’s that good’
Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 87 off 41 in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 wasn’t just a match-defining T20 knock—it was a loud case for his captaincy of India, backed by a stellar record of leadership and performance. Transforming Punjab Kings from perennial underachievers into 2025 IPL finalists with 603 runs at a 175+ strike rate, Iyer also led Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title and Delhi Capitals to the 2020 final.
His Champions Trophy heroics, topping India’s run charts with 243 runs in five games, including a crucial 42 off 68 in the final, showcase his big-match temperament across formats. Despite a rocky BCCI relationship and a contract snub, Iyer’s resilience shone through, winning Ranji, SMAT, and Irani titles for Mumbai in 2024-25.
At 31, mentoring young stars, adapting to any batting slot, and smashing spin and pace with calculated aggression, Iyer is the battle-tested leader India needs as the Kohli-Rohit era fades. As Robin Uthappa declared on X, “Iyer will captain India in multiple formats!! He has to!! He’s that good!!” The question isn’t if Iyer should lead—it’s how long India can delay the inevitable.
