IPL 2026: Can Shreyas Iyer do the double after an agonising miss last season?
IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer has been exceptional as captain over the last two seasons, and Punjab Kings will once again look to their skipper to lead from the front.
6, 4, 6, 6
That’s how Shashank Singh signed off Punjab Kings’ IPL 2025 campaign. But by then, the mood at the Narendra Modi Stadium had already shifted. When Josh Hazlewood began the final over with two dot balls, Royal Challengers Bengaluru could sense it, their wait, an eternity in IPL terms, was finally coming to an end. For Punjab Kings, the script had already been written.
From the dugout, Shreyas Iyer watched on, almost frozen, perhaps replaying that one moment he would want back.
After scoring over 600 runs in the tournament, Shreyas faltered when it mattered most. When Romario Shepherd dismissed him for just one, RCB felt the door open, and they didn’t need a second invitation. What followed was history for them, and heartbreak for PBKS. It brought back memories of 2014, another final, another near miss. Opportunities like this don’t come often for Punjab Kings, which is why this one hurt that little bit more.
Had PBKS gone all the way, Shreyas would have become the first captain to win the IPL with two different franchises. That moment slipped away. But a new season brings a reset. Last year, it was RCB ending their long wait. Now, the question is simple, can Shreyas make it Punjab’s turn?
STRONGER THAN EVER
Shreyas Iyer walks into IPL 2026 with one of Punjab Kings’ most balanced squads in recent years. There’s continuity, there’s clarity, and more importantly, there’s belief after what they managed last season.
At the top, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh offer stability, while the middle order has enough muscle and flexibility with Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai and Shashank Singh. It’s a lineup that can adapt depending on the situation, something PBKS have often lacked in the past.
With the ball, Arshdeep Singh continues to lead the pace attack, while Yuzvendra Chahal adds control and experience in the middle overs. It’s a unit that looks far more rounded than before, with options to mix and match.
The mini-auction only added to that depth. Players like Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Pravin Dubey and Vishal Nishad strengthen the bench, giving Shreyas multiple combinations to work with across conditions.
CAN SHREYAS INSPIRE PUNJAB?
Before the tournament, former cricketer Aakash Chopra suggested that even an IPL title with Punjab Kings may not elevate Shreyas Iyer into the same bracket as captains like MS Dhoni or Rohit Sharma.
But that narrative probably doesn’t matter much to Shreyas. Over the last couple of years, he has gone about things quietly, cutting out the noise and focusing on the job. Taking PBKS to the playoffs after a 10-year gap in his first season as captain says enough about his impact.
There’s also a pattern here. In 2020, Shreyas led Delhi Capitals to a runners-up finish alongside Ricky Ponting. In 2025, he did the same with Punjab Kings. Twice close, twice denied.
Maybe 2026 is where that story finally changes.
When PBKS step out against Gujarat Titans on March 31, the weight of expectation will be there again. But this time, it feels a little different. Not like a team hoping things fall into place, but one that knows it has the pieces. For Shreyas, it’s not about rewriting history, it’s about finishing what he has come close to twice already.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
6, 4, 6, 6
That’s how Shashank Singh signed off Punjab Kings’ IPL 2025 campaign. But by then, the mood at the Narendra Modi Stadium had already shifted. When Josh Hazlewood began the final over with two dot balls, Royal Challengers Bengaluru could sense it, their wait, an eternity in IPL terms, was finally coming to an end. For Punjab Kings, the script had already been written.
From the dugout, Shreyas Iyer watched on, almost frozen, perhaps replaying that one moment he would want back.
After scoring over 600 runs in the tournament, Shreyas faltered when it mattered most. When Romario Shepherd dismissed him for just one, RCB felt the door open, and they didn’t need a second invitation. What followed was history for them, and heartbreak for PBKS. It brought back memories of 2014, another final, another near miss. Opportunities like this don’t come often for Punjab Kings, which is why this one hurt that little bit more.
Had PBKS gone all the way, Shreyas would have become the first captain to win the IPL with two different franchises. That moment slipped away. But a new season brings a reset. Last year, it was RCB ending their long wait. Now, the question is simple, can Shreyas make it Punjab’s turn?
STRONGER THAN EVER
Shreyas Iyer walks into IPL 2026 with one of Punjab Kings’ most balanced squads in recent years. There’s continuity, there’s clarity, and more importantly, there’s belief after what they managed last season.
At the top, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh offer stability, while the middle order has enough muscle and flexibility with Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai and Shashank Singh. It’s a lineup that can adapt depending on the situation, something PBKS have often lacked in the past.
With the ball, Arshdeep Singh continues to lead the pace attack, while Yuzvendra Chahal adds control and experience in the middle overs. It’s a unit that looks far more rounded than before, with options to mix and match.
The mini-auction only added to that depth. Players like Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Pravin Dubey and Vishal Nishad strengthen the bench, giving Shreyas multiple combinations to work with across conditions.
CAN SHREYAS INSPIRE PUNJAB?
Before the tournament, former cricketer Aakash Chopra suggested that even an IPL title with Punjab Kings may not elevate Shreyas Iyer into the same bracket as captains like MS Dhoni or Rohit Sharma.
But that narrative probably doesn’t matter much to Shreyas. Over the last couple of years, he has gone about things quietly, cutting out the noise and focusing on the job. Taking PBKS to the playoffs after a 10-year gap in his first season as captain says enough about his impact.
There’s also a pattern here. In 2020, Shreyas led Delhi Capitals to a runners-up finish alongside Ricky Ponting. In 2025, he did the same with Punjab Kings. Twice close, twice denied.
Maybe 2026 is where that story finally changes.
When PBKS step out against Gujarat Titans on March 31, the weight of expectation will be there again. But this time, it feels a little different. Not like a team hoping things fall into place, but one that knows it has the pieces. For Shreyas, it’s not about rewriting history, it’s about finishing what he has come close to twice already.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
