Irfan Pathan backs Shreyas Iyer to replicate last season's form for Punjab Kings in IPL 2026, saying the batter is already a proven cricketer who doesn’t need the league to prove his place in India’s T20I team.
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has backed Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer to replicate his form from last season into Indian Premier League 2026.
Pathan also added that while there is a spot for him in the Indian T20I set-up, the right-hander is a "proven cricketer" who does not need to use the IPL to present his case for a return to T20I team.
Last year, Iyer finished as his side's top run-getter and overall sixth-highest run-getter with 604 runs in 17 innings at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07, including six fifties.
Speaking on JioHotstar's Game Plan - Know Your Team, Pathan said: 'I am not sure that Shreyas Iyer would be thinking of using the IPL as a stage to prove himself for a comeback into the T20I side. Shreyas Iyer is a proven cricketer. He has done really well in T20 cricket for Punjab Kings, yes, a different franchise, and he has done really well for Team India as well. He is a very important player in one-day cricket as far as the Indian team is concerned.
'I think there is a place for him in the T20 setup for Team India, and he is aware of that. That qualifier knock against Mumbai (41-ball 87* while chasing 204 runs, consisting of five fours and eight sixes), I still remember that shot against (Jasprit) Bumrah, gliding that yorker down towards third man with so much time. He has improved leaps and bounds. I am really excited to see if he can replicate the same performance this season as well. I am confident he will,' said Pathan.
In 51 T20Is, Iyer has scored 1,104 runs in 47 innings at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12, with eight fifties and a best score of 74 not out. He had last worn the Indian colours in the format back in December 2023 against Australia, scoring a 37-ball 53 in Bengaluru.
PBKS are pretty much sorted
The former Indian all-rounder, who represented PBKS in the first three seasons of the competition, said that the team looks "pretty much sorted"
He is particularly excited about the pace attack spearheaded by Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen, with back-ups like Azmatullah Omarzai, Xavier Bartlett, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Ben Dwarshius.
'With Shreyas Iyer, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, the top order is sorted, followed by Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh. Those guys just pick themselves, and then (Marcus) Stoinis' finishing ability will be required as well. After that, they are trying to trust Mitch Owen, who is actually a powerhouse. If he clicks, picking the fast bowlers and the rest of the line-up will not be difficult,' Pathan said.
'My eyes will be on this team's fast bowlers, Arshdeep (Singh), Marco Jansen and (Lockie) Ferguson, they are totally sorted. They have good backups as well,' he added.
Punjab Kings, the last season's runners-up, will start their IPL campaign against 2022 champions Gujarat Titans on March 31 at New Chandigarh.
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