Ricky Ponting Backs Shreyas Iyer as Top Contender For India T20 Captaincy

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed Shreyas Iyer as a leading contender for India’s future T20 captaincy, saying the Punjab Kings skipper is currently at the peak of his game and has developed into a far more mature player. Ponting’s remarks come amid growing discussions over India’s leadership transition in the shortest format following a dip in form for current T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav despite India’s recent T20 World Cup success under his leadership.

Speaking during an interview with PTI, Ponting said Shreyas had emerged as one of the strongest candidates to eventually take over the T20 captaincy role. The former Australian skipper praised the batter’s performances and leadership qualities during the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League, adding that Shreyas appeared fully in control both on and off the field. Ponting noted that the Indian batter looked more composed and confident than at any other stage of his professional career.

The conversation around Shreyas’ captaincy credentials has intensified despite him currently being outside India’s T20 setup. His leadership record in franchise cricket has strengthened his case significantly, having earlier guided the Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title before moving to the Punjab Kings. In his first season with Punjab, he managed to take the franchise to its first IPL final in more than a decade, although the team later endured a difficult run after a strong start to the campaign.

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Ponting admitted that Punjab Kings’ recent six-match losing streak had affected momentum but insisted the team and its captain were capable of bouncing back. Ahead of the franchise’s must-win clash against Lucknow Super Giants, the Australian coach expressed confidence that Shreyas could deliver a match-winning performance. He said periods of ups and downs are natural in a long tournament and stressed that experienced leaders are judged by how they respond under pressure.

The former Australia captain also revealed his surprise over Shreyas not being a regular part of India’s T20 plans despite consistent domestic and IPL performances. Ponting said every time an Indian squad is announced without Shreyas, it raises questions given his leadership record and batting contributions. According to Ponting, Indian selectors are likely to seriously discuss not only Shreyas’ return to the national side but also the possibility of placing captaincy responsibilities on him in the future.

Addressing criticism surrounding Punjab Kings’ recent struggles and social media chatter linked to off-field incidents, Ponting dismissed suggestions that negativity had affected the dressing room environment. He said the players remained focused on cricket and were determined to rediscover the fearless style that helped them dominate the early stages of the tournament. Ponting added that the team’s challenge now is to regain confidence and replicate the aggressive, high-impact cricket that made them one of the standout sides during the first half of the IPL season.

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