Punjab Kings led by captain Shreyas Iyer are having a solid run in the Indian Premier League so far. Out of their six appearances, PBKS have secured four wins and are well-placed in the rankings with eight points to their name. While it is still very early days in the IPL 2025 where things potentially change overnight, the Punjab-based franchise has appeared every bit determined and looked well put together under the able leadership of Iyer. It was, however, Tuesday night’s triumph against his former team Kolkata Knight Riders that put Iyer in the spotlight yet again as fans rallied to make the 31-year-old cricketer the next ODI captain of India. PBKS Vs KKR Punjab Kings pulled of a shocking win when they took on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bat first. Things, however, went south as PBKS failed miserably with the bat in front of their home crowd. The Punjab-based franchise were bundled out for 111 by KKR within 16 overs. It seemed like a formality for KKR to come out and secure an easy win but Iyer’s side hadn’t given up just yet. KKR went from 62 for two to 79 for eight in a blink of an eye. Andre Russell did give KKR hopes when he smashed 17 off Yuzevendra Chahal’s over but South African pacer Marco Jansen ensured there was no twist in the tale. Also Read: Why Were KKR Awarded 5 Runs Against Punjab Kings During Fielding Blunder In IPL? Chahal was awarded Player of the Match for his 28 for four in four overs – a bowling spell that changed the match on its head. Future White-Ball Captain? All eyes were on PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer. That his side had just managed to defend the lowest total in the history of IPL wasn’t loss on anyone. In fact, despite registering a duck in the match, Iyer’s captaincy and tactics during the low-scoring encounter were lauded far and wide. Then, Indian cricket fans came out in huge numbers and opined that Iyer could very well be the worthy successor of Rohit Sharma and lead India in the white-ball format. Iyer has captained in 76 matches in IPL, out of which he has secured 44 wins. For context, Rohit Sharma had 46 wins after first 75 matches as captain while MS Dhoni notched up 45. “While India seem keen on Shubman Gill as Rohit Sharma’s successor.. I see Shreyas Iyer as the true heir to ODI captaincy. We have come in an age where three captains for three formats is completely fair and Shreyas Iyer should be India’s next ODI captain. Thoughts? #IPL2025,” a user on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) remarked. Another user simply wrote: “Shreyas Iyer is making his case stronger for the ODI captaincy after Rohit Sharma.” Shreyas Iyer since 2024 – Won Champions Trophy– Most runs in CT – Won IPL as Captain– Won SMAT as Captain– Won Ranji Trophy– Won Irani Cup– Won ICC Men's Player of the Month– Most runs as Captain in IPL 2025 THIS IS #SHREYASIYER FOR YOU?🫡 pic.twitter.com/VSbDqIZTrC — CULT MAMA ᴿᴬᴾᴼ²² 'ᴿᴱᴮᴱᴸᵂᴼᴼᴰ' (@kalki2024BC) April 15, 2025 At the time of writing this, Iyer has accumulated 250 runs in just 6 games at an average of 62.50 and strike rate of 204.92. Kolkata Knight Riders’ decision to release Shreyas Iyer despite the fact that he brought them glory and a shining trophy in IPL 2024 has also been a contributing factor for fans to continually rally behind him. Iyer had maintained that there was no “concrete effort” shown by KKR in having retention talks after the IPL 2024 triumph. Puzzled and upset by this, he decided to part ways mutually from KKR. He was later signed by Punjab Kings for a steep Rs 26.75 crore cheque, marking the second-highest bid in the history of IPL. Shreyas Iyer – ICC Men’s Player Of The Month Iyer’s batting heroics in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 triumph earned him the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award. The elegant right-handed batter piled up 243 runs in five matches at an impressive average of 48.6 – making him the highest run scorer for India in the Champions Trophy. “I’m truly honored to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March. This recognition is incredibly special, especially in a month where we lifted the ICC Champions Trophy — a moment I will cherish forever,” Iyer said in an ICC release. “Being able to contribute to India’s success on such a big stage is something every cricketer dreams of. I’m grateful to my teammates, coaches, and support staff for their unwavering support and belief,” he further added.” Also Read: How Shreyas Iyer Quietly Became Everyone’s Favourite Cricketer In IPL 2025 Return To BCCI Contract Iyer is all set to earn back his Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) central contract for the 2024-25 cycle, according to reports. The batter had earlier lost the contract after failing to show up for a domestic game owing to shoulder issues.