India, April 1 -- The people of Punjab found a special tag for Shreyas Iyer last year - Sarpanch Sahab, meaning a head or elected representative. It may have started as a social media trick that latched on but it also fits his essence as Punjab Kings skipper, where he has come across as a measured, methodical leader who lets his work define the group ahead.

Last year, Punjab Kings finished atop the table in the league stage and made it to the finals, only to be defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 6 runs. They started their 2026 campaign with a win, defeating Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets on Tuesday.

When the team regrouped before the season, the dressing room discussion largely focused on carrying last season's success forward with...