Punjab Kings have been playing well in the IPL 2026 tournament. They haven't lost any game in this year’s edition of the league and are currently leading the points chart with 9 points. In Thursday's clash, Punjab Kings defeated Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium by seven wickets. Shreyas Iyer has played a key role as the captain and batter of Punjab Kings.

Irfan Pathan, former India all-rounder, feels that Shreyas is now just one step away from making a come-back into the India T20 team due to his excellent form. Pathan further shared his views about Punjab Kings' performance on Star Sports. Their plan was clear. Arshdeep Singh established momentum brilliantly with the new ball. During the chase, their captain led from the front and remained in control throughout.

He said that one player who stood out to me was Prabhsimran Singh. He showed great maturity in playing the dual role of wicketkeeper and opener. He wasn't in this role last season, but he has done a great job this year. The composure he displayed has made Punjab's performance even better.

On Shreyas Iyer's chances of returning to India's T20 team, Pathan said, "Even if that innings against MI hadn't happened, I still think Shreyas Iyer would have been in contention. I've said this a long time ago because he has the skill set needed for the middle overs.

He plays spin very well and also has the technique to handle pressure situations." He has improved significantly against fast bowlers, but his main strength lies in his ability to dominate spin and perform well. He also possesses the qualities of a leader. The way he is playing, it seems he is in complete control and is not far from making a strong comeback.

In the match at Wankhede, Mumbai Indians, batting first, scored 195 for 6. Punjab won the match by scoring 198 for 5 in 16.3 overs. For Punjab, Prabhsimran scored an unbeaten 80 off 39 balls and Iyer scored 66 off 35 balls.