Shreyas Iyer has proved both his batting and captaincy prowess in the last one year which speaks volume of his credential as a skipper. Recently he scripted history by steering his side, Punjab Kings (PBKS) to IPL 2025 final, however he ended up on a losing side. He became the first captain to lead three different franchise, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings to IPL finals.
Captaincy brings in a lot of maturity and responsibility: Shreyas Iyer
But ironically, despite making his international debut for India in 2017, Shreyas Iyer remains a somewhat puzzling figure in Indian cricket. Possessing a compelling combination of charisma, undeniable talent, and a positive attitude, he seems to have all the necessary components for superstardom. However, his career has been consistently plagued by misfortune. Time and again, just as Iyer appears poised for a significant breakthrough, an unforeseen obstacle emerges to halt his momentum. This was evident after the 2023 World Cup, where he was a standout performer for India, only to be sidelined by a back injury and subsequently lose his BCCI central contract, causing him to slide down the national team's hierarchy. While his struggle with short-pitched bowling has been a known issue, he has diligently worked on this aspect of his game and now appears far more confident against it.
True to his resilient nature, Shreyas Iyer has once again staged a remarkable comeback, re-establishing himself as a premier talent. His recent resurgence has been so impactful that, according to a senior BCCI official, he is now a serious contender in the race for India's white-ball captaincy, presenting a direct challenge to Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. This claim is bolstered by a highly successful IPL season with the Punjab Kings. With the current captain Rohit Sharma approaching 40, Iyer is being viewed as a potential successor for the ODI leadership role. His captaincy credentials are well-established, having led the Delhi Capitals to their first-ever IPL final in 2020, guiding KKR to a championship title in 2024, and taking the Punjab Kings to the final in the most recent season.
Given his exceptional form, Iyer's return to India's T20I and Test squads seems imminent, a development that would significantly strengthen the team's leadership core. He is currently showcasing his captaincy skills in the Mumbai T20 League, where he has already led his team, the Sobo Mumbai Falcons, to the semi-finals. In a recent candid interview, Iyer himself spoke about his passion for leadership, affirming his love for the responsibility and the challenges that come with captaining a side.
"It (captaincy) brings in a lot of maturity and responsibility. You are always expected to perform and contribute in the best way possible for the team because whenever there is a hurdle or some kind of adversity you face as a team, they always come to the captain. I think I have got a lot of experience as I have been captaining since I was 22. I have enjoyed the moments and also embraced it. I love the fact to come out and lead, " Iyer said on the sidelines of the T20 Mumbai League.
Shreyas Iyer, at the age of 30, has joined fellow Indian cricket stars such as Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube in the T20 Mumbai League, a notable domestic franchise tournament. His participation offers him a platform to perform in a competitive environment alongside some of the country's top talent. Speaking about his experience, Iyer shared that he feels most driven in high-pressure scenarios, as these situations motivate him to deliver his best performances on the field. He also expressed a deep sense of enjoyment in playing with teammates he has known since his childhood cricketing days. For Iyer, this reunion with familiar faces adds a special element of camaraderie and personal significance to his participation in the tournament.
"I just try to get into my zone, and I try to do things which are there in front of me. I try to stay focused as much as possible, just stay in the present, embrace the situation, embrace the crowd because sometimes they get very electrifying and pass on the energy to you. So I keep telling myself that I want the crowd to cheer my name, and that brings that kind of motivation. There are familiar faces in the dressing room, I have played with a few of them in club cricket and also in my school and college teams. I am glad to be back and play with my teammates here," Iyer added.
Going by his recent batting exploits, it was expected that Iyer might land up in India's Test squad for the upcoming England tour, but Ajit Agarkar-led India selection committee thought otherwise and the stat batter was snubbed from the all-important series which is set to start from June 20