Shreyas Iyer one trophy away from surpassing Dhoni, Sharma, Gambhir: Irfan Pathan
Synopsis
Irfan Pathan's endorsement of Shreyas Iyer as IPL's greatest captain hinges on one trophy. What sets Iyer apart is not just winning—it's winning across three different franchises, a feat no Dhoni, no Sharma, no Gambhir has matched. One more crown and the narrative shifts from 'promising captain' to 'all-time great.'
Key Takeaways
Irfan Pathan says Shreyas Iyer needs one more IPL trophy to surpass MS Dhoni , Rohit Sharma , and Gautam Gambhir .
Iyer has led three franchises to the final— Delhi Capitals , Kolkata Knight Riders (won), and Punjab Kings —an unmatched achievement.
Punjab Kings lost the IPL 2025 final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru but currently lead the points table with 13 points from nine matches .
Other great captains built legacies with single franchises: Dhoni with CSK , Sharma with MI , Gambhir with KKR .
Punjab faces Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday at Hyderabad .
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan on 6 May lauded Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer, asserting that the right-hander stands on the precipice of becoming the greatest captain in IPL history should he claim one more trophy. Speaking to Jio Hotstar, Pathan highlighted Iyer's unparalleled feat of steering three separate franchises to the final.
"Shreyas Iyer has taken three franchises to the final and won it with KKR. One more trophy; if he wins it with Punjab, he will surpass everyone," Pathan said, placing Iyer ahead of legendary captains MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir.
A unique captaincy arc
Pathan underscored that Iyer's ability to adapt across franchises with distinct cultures and operational frameworks sets him apart. "It is not easy to take three different franchises to the finals. Each franchise is different—their culture, setup, and mindset is completely different. To adjust to those things and lead the way forward is not easy. No one has ever done it," the former all-rounder noted.
How other captains built their legacies
Unlike Iyer, Pathan observed, the other titans of IPL captaincy consolidated their success with single franchises. MS Dhoni claimed all five titles with Chennai Super Kings, Rohit Sharma won every trophy as captain with Mumbai Indians, and Gautam Gambhir captured two crowns during his tenure at KKR. Their dominance, while formidable, lacked the cross-franchise versatility Iyer has demonstrated.
Punjab's current standing
Under Iyer's stewardship, Punjab Kings reached the IPL 2025 final but fell short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the title clash. The franchise currently leads the points table with 13 points from nine matches and faces Sunrisers Hyderabad—the 2016 IPL champions—at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
The road ahead
With Punjab positioned atop the standings, Iyer's quest for a second IPL trophy remains within reach. Should the franchise go on to claim the title, Pathan's assertion would be vindicated—and Iyer would etch his name indelibly into IPL folklore as the only captain to win across multiple franchises.
Point of View
He's redefining what 'greatest captain' means in IPL. Dhoni's five titles with CSK are a dynasty; Iyer's three-franchise journey is adaptability. But numbers matter too. If Iyer wins with Punjab, his legacy becomes 'versatile architect'; if he doesn't, it becomes 'runner-up across franchises.' The narrative turns on a single trophy. That's not necessarily unfair—it's just incomplete without acknowledging that building a winning culture from scratch is harder than inheriting one.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Shreyas Iyer's captaincy unique compared to MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma?
Iyer has led three different franchises—Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Punjab Kings—to the IPL final, a feat unmatched in league history. Dhoni won all five titles with CSK, and Sharma won all trophies as captain with MI, building legacies with single teams. Iyer's achievement lies in adapting to distinct franchise cultures and setups.
What does Irfan Pathan say Iyer needs to surpass the all-time greats?
According to Pathan, Iyer needs to win one more IPL trophy. If he claims a title with Punjab Kings, he will surpass Dhoni, Sharma, and Gambhir as the greatest captain in IPL history.
How did Punjab Kings perform in IPL 2025?
Punjab Kings reached the IPL 2025 final under Shreyas Iyer's leadership but lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They currently lead the points table with 13 points from nine matches.
Which franchises has Shreyas Iyer captained in the IPL?
Shreyas Iyer has captained Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders (where he won the IPL title in 2024), and Punjab Kings (from IPL 2025 onwards).
