Anil Kumble Praises Shreyas Iyer Ahead of PBKS IPL 2026 Opener

Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble has recently sung the praises of Shreyas Iyer's captaincy skills, especially during the Indian Premier League. This comes just ahead of Iyer’s second season at the helm of the Punjab Kings (PBKS). 

Kumble was genuinely impressed by Iyer's leadership when he guided the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the championship in 2024 and then led PBKS to their second-ever IPL final. This achievement came after KKR chose not to retain their title-winning captain before the mega auction in 2025. 

“Shreyas Iyer is certainly an underrated skipper. It is not easy to win a trophy with one franchise and then go to another. There is a different management, atmosphere and a team. The pressure is also different. The new franchise he joined had not played in the final in the last 10 years and in just his first season with the Punjab Kings, he took them to the final. I was not just impressed by his captaincy, but the way he led the team from the front. There are some players who have to prove themselves every time. Shreyas is like that. Even after performing, questions still come up. I think he is underrated, but is an exceptional leader,” Kumble was quoted as saying on JioStar. 

Once KKR let him go, PBKS swooped in during the 2025 mega-auction, signing the Mumbai native for a staggering INR 26.75 crore and promptly naming him their captain, recognizing his impressive track record as a leader in T20 cricket. Last season, the 31-year-old really stepped up, amassing 604 runs with an average of 50.33 and a striking strike rate of 175.07. 

Iyer also managed to lead a relatively young squad to the IPL final last season, getting the best performances out of players like Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Nehal Wadhera, among others. 

PBKS 2026 IPL Campaign Kicks Off Against Gujarat Titans

As PBKS gears up for their 2026 IPL campaign, they will kick things off against the Gujarat Titans on March 31 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in Mohali, hoping to improve on last season's performance. 

With Shreyas Iyer preparing for his second season as captain of the Punjab Kings, the pressure is on. After making a mark with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 and steering PBKS to the IPL final last year, he has shown he can lead. With a young and talented roster, Iyer aims to guide PBKS to their first IPL title. The team will launch their 2026 season against the Gujarat Titans on March 31 in Mohali.