Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed optimism in Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer replicating his last season’s form and leadership, adding that while there is a spot for him in the Indian T20I set-up, the right-hander is a “proven cricketer” who does not need to use the Indian Premier League (IPL) to present his case for a return to T20I team.

Punjab Kings, the last season’s runners-up, will start their IPL campaign against 2022 champions Gujarat Titans on March 31 at New Chandigarh. After a brilliant run last year, there will be massive hopes from the side with Shreyas and head coach Ricky Ponting forming a powerful leadership duo. Last year, Iyer finished as his side’s top run-getter and overall sixth-highest run-getter with 604 runs in 17 innings at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07, including six fifties. Having won the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as captain in 2024 and taking PBKS to the finals last year, Iyer is one cracking season away from a potential return to India’s T20I set-up.

In 51 T20Is, Iyer has scored 1,104 runs in 47 innings at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12, with eight fifties and a best score of 74*. He had last worn the Indian colours in the format back in December 2023 against Australia, scoring a 37-ball 53 in Bengaluru.

Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Game Plan – Know Your Team’, JioStar expert Irfan expressed optimism about Iyer carrying his last season’s form, pointing out how “he has improved leaps and bounds”.

“I am not sure that Shreyas Iyer would be thinking of using the IPL as a stage to prove himself for a comeback into the T20I side. Shreyas Iyer is a proven cricketer. He has done really well in T20 cricket for Punjab Kings, yes, a different franchise, and he has done really well for Team India as well. He is a very important player in one-day cricket as far as the Indian team is concerned. I think there is a place for him in the T20 setup for Team India, and he is aware of that. That qualifier knock against Mumbai (41-ball 87* while chasing 204 runs, consisting of five fours and eight sixes), I still remember that shot against (Jasprit) Bumrah, gliding that yorker down towards third man with so much time. He has improved leaps and bounds. I am really excited to see if he can replicate the same performance this season as well. I am confident he will,” said Pathan.

The former Indian all-rounder, who represented PBKS in the first three seasons of the competition, said that the team looks “pretty much sorted”, with openers Prabhsimran Singh (549 runs in 17 innings with four fifties at an SR of 160-plus) and Priyansh Arya (475 runs in 17 innings at an SR of above 179, with a century and two fifties) and Iyer having incredible 2025 season with the bat which makes them automatic starters.

Pathan also pointed out that the middle-order also looks strong, with Indian uncapped stars Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh and Australian stars Marcus Stoinis and Mitch Owen being a part of it. He is particularly excited about the pace attack spearheaded by Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen, with back-ups like Azmatullah Omarzai, Xavier Bartlett, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Ben Dwarshius.

“With Shreyas Iyer, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, the top order is sorted, followed by Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh. Those guys just pick themselves, and then (Marcus) Stoinis’ finishing ability will be required as well. After that, they are trying to trust Mitch Owen, who is actually a powerhouse. If he clicks, picking the fast bowlers and the rest of the line-up will not be difficult. My eyes will be on this team’s fast bowlers, Arshdeep (Singh), Marco Jansen and (Lockie) Ferguson, they are totally sorted. They have good backups as well,” he added.

Shubman Gill’s return as T20 vice-captain ahead of Asia Cup would do a ‘world of good’ to the Indian team in the longer run, said former all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Tuesday, adding that the 25-year-old will look to prove a point with his aggressive batting.

Gill made a comeback to the shortest format for the continental tournament following a successful debut series as Test captain, and Pathan said it isn’t something that would put pressure on incumbent leader Suryakumar Yadav.

“This selection of being vice-captain of Shubman Gill without the consent of Surya Kumar Yadav would not have happened,” Pathan said in an interaction organised by Sony Sports.

“His (Suryakumar’s) responsibility is not only to perform, not only to actually look after the team, but at the same time grow leadership, grow the team and he has started (doing) that.

“People might think that puts pressure on him, but what he is doing, it’s actually doing world of good to Indian cricket in the long term and it will put Suryakumar Yadav (as) a proper leader who is respected, especially in the cricketing community,” he said.

Pathan said Gill will look to “prove a point”.

“What we have seen this season, the way he played, the amount of runs he scored in last few seasons in the IPL as well. Now the Indian team has gone to (scoring at) higher strike rate.

“They want to just be very aggressive. I don’t think so there will be an issue for Gill to start playing (an) aggressive role and do what team demands of him.

“More than anyone else in this group, Gill will go there and try to prove a point in terms of playing aggressive cricket. He has the ability and he has got a lot of range,” he added.

‘Rohit wants to continue playing ODIs’

Pathan revealed Rohit Sharma, who has retired from T20Is and Tests, has expressed his wish to continue playing ODIs for as long as possible but said getting game-time will be a challenge for the former captain and even Virat Kohli.

“This new (fitness) test is obviously not easy, so once you’re able to clear it, that means your fitness is top-notch. I had a long call with him as well as far as just to know about his future plans, he’s very keen. He wants to make sure that he continues playing,” Pathan said.

“As long as the player is fit, the age doesn’t matter. But the challenge will be for him to have a game-time. Playing for India, I don’t think there will be any issues with the motivation.

“Be it’s Rohit. Be it’s Virat or be it’s Mohammed Shami as well. How much game-time they will have and how much they can continue playing cricket in whatever form, because they have retired from Test cricket (and) T20 Internationals as well,” Pathan said.

Pathan said Varun Chakravarthy, who had a forgettable outing in T20I format during the 2021 World Cup in the UAE, will be India’s X-factor.

“You always think all-rounders bring the x-factor but I’ll be excited to actually see how Varun Chakravarthy goes because you must know that there will be a redemption story,” he said.

“Varun was picked for the World Cup in Dubai which happened in 2021. I don’t think so he did that well at that particular time. My eyes will be on Varun Chakravarthy because he has a lot of confidence and he can definitely come with the x-factor,” he said.

Pathan reiterated his opinion that workload management for key bowlers including Jasprit Bumrah cannot be done during important assignments.

“You must have heard that Pat Cummins will manage his workload to play the Ashes and would skip matches. But will he manage his workload during the Ashes?” he asked.

“This has been twisted a lot, but I say that by all means everyone’s workload should be managed because they play so much. But once you are in a series and if you try and manage workload during that, you will not get the results,” Pathan added.