Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra praised Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer for his impressive batting in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Chopra urged the national selectors to include Iyer in the India team and even suggested making him the permanent captain for the T20 World Cup 2028.
Punjab Kings have made a strong start to the season. They are one of only two teams that have not lost a match. PBKS began their campaign with wins over Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Their match against Kolkata Knight Riders was washed out, but they defeated SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Aakash Chopra Demands India Captaincy for Shreyas Iyer
Aakash Chopra said that Shreyas Iyer controls the middle overs effectively in limited-overs cricket. He added that ignoring Iyer for the India national team would be a huge mistake and urged selectors to give him a leadership role.
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“I’m a huge fan of Shreyas Iyer’s skill to control the middle overs. In both ODI and T20s. It’ll be a travesty if he’s not a part of India’s T20 set-up sooner than later. In fact, could be a captaincy candidate for the next World Cup 🙌,” Chopra wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
I’m a huge fan of Shreyas Iyer’s skill to control the middle overs. In both ODI and T20s. It’ll be a travesty if he’s not a part of India’s T20 set-up sooner than later. In fact, could be a captaincy candidate for the next World Cup 🙌
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 11, 2026
India became the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cups and the first side to claim the title three times. Iyer has not featured in a T20I for India since the end of 2023. However, he guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a title and led Punjab Kings to a runners-up finish in consecutive seasons.
Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head Post Massive Target
Sunrisers Hyderabad batted first at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head launched a brutal attack, building a 120-run partnership in just 8.1 overs. Abhishek reached his half-century in only 18 balls.
The Indian batter smashed 74 runs from 28 deliveries, hitting eight sixes and five fours. Head scored 38 off 23 balls. Shashank Singh provided key breakthroughs by dismissing both openers in one over, finishing with two wickets for 20 runs.
Ishan Kishan made 27 off 17 balls, while Heinrich Klaasen added 39 from 33 deliveries. Arshdeep Singh took two wickets as Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 219/6. Xavier Bartlett bowled an excellent final over, conceding just five runs.
Shreyas Iyer and Opening Batters Secure Victory
Punjab Kings chased the 220-run target comfortably with seven deliveries to spare. Openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh gave a flying start with a 99-run partnership in the powerplay. Arya attacked Harshal Patel with consecutive boundaries on his way to a rapid half-century.
Priyansh Arya scored 57 from 20 deliveries, while Prabhsimran Singh made 51 from 25 balls. Shivang Kumar picked up three wickets to give Sunrisers Hyderabad some hope, but Shreyas Iyer built on the strong start and guided the chase with control.
Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 69 from 33 deliveries, leading from the front with a fluent captain’s knock. He won the Player of the Match award and credited the openers for taking smart risks. Punjab Kings will next face Lucknow Super Giants at the same venue on April 19.
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