Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has heaped reward on Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer, highlighting his evolution as each a batter and a pacesetter over the previous two years. Ashwin believes Iyer is steadily rising right into a captain whom gamers belief and look as much as, crediting his management fashion and constant performances with the bat as key components behind Punjab’s success.Iyer’s management journey gained prominence final season when he guided PBKS to their first IPL ultimate in 11 years. His standout knock of an unbeaten 87 off 41 balls towards Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 not solely underlined his batting class but additionally showcased his potential to ship beneath strain. The win marked PBKS’ first-ever profitable 200-plus chase towards Mumbai in IPL historical past.This season, Iyer has carried that momentum ahead. With 4 wins in 5 matches (together with one washout), Punjab Kings presently sit atop the IPL 2026 factors desk.Making a ‘Brotherhood’ TraditionAshwin identified that Iyer’s greatest power as a captain lies within the atmosphere he has created throughout the workforce. “Simply the consolation that he’s creating across the workforce, to say, we may have a brotherly dialog. It is a brotherhood right here. On the finish of the day, I’ve performed in groups the place there may be all the time that layer that you may’t… You’re simply not capable of go as much as the captain or the coach and say, ‘I’ll ship this for you’. And it is occurred,” Ashwin stated on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut programme.“Simply the truth that he has stored it easy like how it’s being accomplished in your gully or in your tennis-ball recreation again residence, the place we do that on a regular basis with our captain or with our good friend. That environment is superb. And I feel the best way he’s batting, he’s rising into the function of a pacesetter that the gamers are wanting as much as, which is a deadly mixture,” Ashwin added. Iyer’s wonderful batting kind has additional strengthened his captaincy. The precise-hander has scored 203 runs in 5 matches this season at a blistering strike fee of 187.96, together with scores of fifty, 69* and 66 in his final three innings.Based on Ashwin, Iyer’s presence on the crease is now intimidating bowlers.“His sheer presence (on the crease) is terrifying the bowlers in some ways. And the way has he accomplished that? His urge for food to have the ability to upskill himself is sensational. I’ve performed cricket for fairly an period of time. I’ve interacted with loads of cricketers, not many have the urge for food to have the ability to go away what they’re good at and discover areas the place they’re weak. You’ll have seen loads of careers pan out the place individuals haven’t labored on their weaknesses in any respect,” he concluded.