IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer among IPL’s greatest captains, claims former India batter; ranks him behind Dhoni, Rohit, and Gambhir

Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath has ranked Shreyas Iyer among the top IPL captains, just behind legends MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir.

Shreyas Iyer has already taken three different teams to IPL finals. Image | X

Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath has flashed a fresh argument in the cricketing world by ranking Shreyas Iyer as one of the greatest captains in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Badrinath placed Iyer in the elite bracket of leaders, following only the legendary trio of MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir.

The "elite four" ranking

Badrinath’s judgment comes on the heels of Iyer’s constant success as a captain across different franchises.

While recognising the gap between Iyer and the five-time title winners like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, Badrinath was strong on his positioning.

"It is a bit too early to compare him with legendary captains like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. They are at a different level... these two have five titles each. Shreyas still hasn’t won the number of titles, apart from the one with KKR, like these two legends. But he’s definitely up there. If you make a list of the best IPL captains, I’ll place him after MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir," Badrinath commented.

Read also: IPL 2026: KKR set for high-octane intra-squad match to get ready for the season.

A proven track record of success

Iyer’s captaincy diplomacy has seen a meteoric rise over the last three seasons. His capability to convert teams from a good one to a winning one and lead from the front with the bat has been a hallmark of his tenure.

In 2024, Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title, finishing a decade-long drought for the franchise.

In the following season, he guided Punjab Kings to a historic runners-up finish. Overall, Iyer boasts an outstanding record of 50 wins in 87 matches as a captain.

Read also: KKR search for Harshit Rana’s replacement: Navdeep Saini, Simarjeet Singh and Akash Madhwal give trials at Eden.

Beyond his captaincy stats, Iyer’s personal form in the 2025 season was a primary reason for Punjab Kings' revival. He scored 604 runs in 17 matches, maintaining a staggering average of 50.33 and a blistering strike rate of 175.07, including six half-centuries.

Share