Shreyas Iyer has established himself as a strong leader in the Indian Premier League (IPL), having captained the Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Punjab Kings, leading his teams to three finals and winning the title in 2024. His impressive batting performance, including 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07 last season and 208 runs at 182.45 in the current season, has intensified calls for his return to the Indian T20I team. With the current T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, under scrutiny for his form, Iyer is viewed as a leading candidate for captaincy. However, former India pacer Zaheer Khan advises that Iyer should prioritize securing a spot in the T20I setup through consistent performances before focusing on leadership roles. Khan believes Iyer is eager to make a significant impact with his batting to ensure his inclusion in the squad.