NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer has led Punjab Kings (PBKS) brilliantly since joining the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season and taking over the captaincy. With IPL 2026 underway now and Iyer’s team on top of the rankings, the Mumbai-born made it clear that the ultimate objective remains unchanged, while emphasising a process-driven approach.
"The mission, obviously, is to lift the trophy. But I always feel that the more you stay in the present, the more you stay in control of what is in your hands at that moment and you just have to go full throttle. You don’t have to think too far ahead or dwell on the past. I reiterate the same point to my teammates as well, that when we are out there, we are playing for ourselves, not against the opponents. We just want to improve each day and make sure we put our best foot forward. When everything comes together and that synergy builds, everything falls into place, ” Iyer told JioStar.
Having led Punjab to the brink of glory in the Indian Premier League 2025, where they fell just six runs short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Iyer has quickly become a fan favourite, fondly dubbed ‘Sarpanch Saab’ for his leadership style.
“I love it. I was clueless at the start of my journey with Punjab Kings about how the ‘Sarpanch’ tag came up and what it meant. But later, when I asked a couple of my teammates, they explained that ‘Sarpanch’ means the head of a family, a group, or even a district. That gave me clarity, and from there onwards, my journey started, ” Iyer said, reflecting on the nickname that underscores his role within the squad.