Leadership in the Indian Premier League isn’t just about wearing the armband or giving speeches—it’s about real-time decision making, tactical instinct and owning the heat of the moment.
Unfortunately for Shreyas Iyer, the only trail he seems to be leaving behind is that of catastrophic chases, broken records (for all the wrong reasons) and a lack of control when it matters the most.
From Kolkata Knight Riders to Punjab Kings, it’s not a coincidence—the captaincy has gone completely off the rails.
Under Iyer’s captaincy, two of the most unbelievable—and embarrassing—chases in IPL history have unfolded.
In 2024, Punjab Kings chased down 262 against Iyer led KKR, setting a world record for the highest successful run chase in T20 cricket.
In 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad returned the favour by chasing 245 against Iyer’s new team, Punjab Kings, making it the second highest chase ever in the IPL.
In both cases, Iyer was helpless as fielders scrambled, bowlers got tonked for fun and opposition batters turned into juggernauts.
You don’t become the only captain in IPL history to lose two games where 240+ totals were chased without doing something fundamentally wrong. The signs are all there:
No tactical flexibility. Bowlers were persisted with despite leaking runs.Poor match-ups. No attempts to bring in off-pace options or spinners when batters were clearly dominating pace.
Body language and energy. On both occasions, Iyer looked more like a passenger than a leader—no urgency, no spark, no visible impact on the team’s mindset.
It’s hard to blame the bowlers entirely when the same pattern repeats under the same leadership. This is not a one off collapse—this is chronic.
What makes a good T20 captain? The ability to read the pitch, shuffle bowlers smartly, place fielders with precision and motivate a side that might otherwise lose the plot. Think Dhoni, think Rohit, even KL
