[CRK]
Shreyas Iyer in ‘The Zone,’ Says R Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin has heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer, describing the Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper as being “in the zone” and undergoing a transformative journey from “good to great.” Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut programme, Ashwin highlighted how Iyer’s presence, form, and leadership have elevated both his game and the team’s performance in IPL 2025 and 2026.
A Captain in Command, A Batter in Flow
“I’m not just looking at the runs being made, the volume of it, or the sixes or the fours, but just the sheer presence on the ground,” Ashwin said. “When Shreyas Iyer is just marking his guard — every single time and for the last five games in this edition — it just looks like he’s in a zone that’s probably not conceivable for people who have not seen the game in the same way [as cricketers].”
Iyer’s recent performances back that up — 50, 69*, and 66 in his last three innings — all powered by an explosive strike rate of 187.96 in IPL 2026. But for Ashwin, it’s not just the numbers. It’s the aura.
“That happens because you’re in a zone. Everything is ticking. Starting from what you’re eating, when you’re sleeping, how you’re practicing. You hit a ball in the nets and you get the same ball when you play the first one and the next.”
Striking Fear Into Bowlers
Ashwin emphasized how Iyer’s confidence at the crease is having a psychological impact on opposition bowlers. “His sheer presence [at the crease] is terrifying the bowlers in many ways,” he noted.
And the reason? A relentless commitment to self-improvement. “His appetite to be able to upskill himself is sensational,” Ashwin said. “Not many have the appetite to be able to leave what they’re good at and explore areas where they’re weak. You would have seen a lot of careers pan out where people have not worked on their weaknesses at all.”
One of the long-standing critiques against Iyer has been his struggle against the short ball. But lately, that narrative has shifted. Ashwin cited Iyer’s six off Jasprit Bumrah — pulled over midwicket — as a moment of defiance and evolution. “He said, ‘okay, I’ll pull the short ball in a Test match and get out, but I’m not shying away from the contest’. That’s probably inspirational to a lot of cricketers watching the game.”
Leadership That Builds Brotherhood
Ashwin also pointed to Iyer’s growing influence as a captain. Under his leadership, PBKS reached the IPL 2025 final and currently sit atop the IPL 2026 table with four wins from five matches (one washed out).
“Just the comfort that he is creating around the team, to say, we will have a brotherly conversation. It’s a brotherhood here,” Ashwin remarked. “At the end of the day, I have played in teams where there is always that layer that you can’t… You are just not able to go up to the captain or the coach and say, ‘I will deliver this for you’. And it’s happened.”
That open culture, modeled on gully cricket camaraderie, has fostered a high-trust environment. “He is growing into the role of being a leader. And I think the way he is batting, he is growing into the role of a leader that the players are looking up to, which is a lethal combination.”
Should Shreyas Iyer Be in India’s T20I Team?
Despite India’s back-to-back T20 World Cup wins without Iyer, Ashwin believes the debate over his inclusion shouldn’t even exist.
“At this point of time, if he is not going to find higher honours, it’s not his loss anymore. It’s ours that we can’t see him do what he is doing [for PBKS] for the Indian team, in national colours.”
His argument is simple: pick the best 15 players. “Write the best 15 names possible. Don’t worry about who is missing out.” And where does Iyer stand? “Of course, yes. He’s good enough to be written down in a list that is being prepared for an India T20I side.”
With form, leadership, and fearlessness converging, Shreyas Iyer isn’t just performing — he’s evolving. And as R Ashwin makes clear, that journey from good to great is one Indian cricket can’t afford to ignore.
