Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakant Pandit believes Shreyas Iyer has shown the qualities needed to potentially lead the Indian cricket team in the future. This endorsement comes after Iyer successfully led KKR to their third Indian Premier League (IPL) championship, defeating SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets at Chepauk on Sunday, May 25.
Before this achievement, Iyer faced significant challenges. He was dealing with injuries and was not included in the Board of Control for Cricket in India‘s (BCCI) central contract list. Despite these setbacks, Iyer excelled under pressure and led KKR with exceptional skill throughout the season. The 29-year-old displayed a calm attitude, made smart decisions regarding field placements.
Like bowling changes, and maintained his composure under pressure. Under Iyer’s leadership, KKR won nine out of 14 league matches, with two games being abandoned due to bad weather. Iyer’s strategic acumen shone through particularly during the playoffs, where KKR secured dominant victories in Qualifier 1 and the final, ultimately winning the title.
Pandit highlighted Iyer’s leadership abilities, emphasizing his potential as a future captain for India. In an interview with the Times of India, Pandit expressed his confidence in Iyer’s capability to lead the national team, noting his impressive performance and composed leadership style throughout the IPL season.
“I would give a lot of credit to Shreyas. He’s been a fantastic captain, very calm and cool. He was receptive to our suggestions and handled the team well on and off the field. With KKR, he showed the qualities which make him worthy of India captaincy in the future.”
Shreyas Iyer Garnering Support for Future India Captaincy After Leading KKR to IPL Victory
KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit and several former cricketers have endorsed Shreyas Iyer as a future captain for India. After leading KKR to their third IPL title, Iyer has shown exceptional leadership and strategic skills.
Despite previous setbacks, including injuries and exclusion from BCCI’s central contract list, Iyer has matured significantly as a cricketer. Pandit highlighted that these challenges have made Iyer a more sensible and composed batsman, enhancing his potential to lead the national team.
“Any player would be disappointed with that (Iyer’s BCCI contract snub). However, that should not affect his performance. Whenever we would discuss anything, we would never touch upon that point. We were clear that the task at hand was more important,” Pandit said. “I remember that he told me : ‘ Sir, I’ll prove it.’ The way he has batted in this IPL, he now seems to be a more matured, sensible batsman,” he added.
Iyer didn’t have an outstanding season with the bat in IPL 2024 but contributed crucial runs when his team needed them. He scored a total of 351 runs in 14 matches, averaging 39 with a strike rate above 145. Notably, he played a match-winning half-century in Qualifier 1 against SunRisers Hyderabad.
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