Shreyas Iyer: A Resilient Leader
Failures are stepping stones to success, and Shreyas Iyer has certainly demonstrated this principle to the cricketing world. Despite being dropped by the BCCI earlier this year, Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title this season.
Battling Through a Tough Season
While Iyer’s performance with the bat wasn’t stellar, scoring 351 runs in 14 group stage matches, his captaincy was exemplary. Under his leadership, KKR secured 9 wins out of 14 group stage matches. His strategic decision-making and adept handling of bowler rotations, particularly in the playoffs, were key to KKR’s triumph.
The Journey After BCCI Snub
KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit highlighted Iyer’s journey since his BCCI contract snub in an interview with Times of India. “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 explained.
A Determined Mindset
Pandit recalled Iyer’s determination to prove himself, quoting him: “Sir, I’ll prove it.” He praised Iyer’s maturity and sensible batting throughout the IPL season. Moreover, Pandit commended Iyer’s exceptional captaincy and expressed confidence in his potential to lead the Indian cricket team in the future. “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,” Pandit stated.
The Gambhir Influence
The success was also attributed to mentor and former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir. Pandit described Gambhir as a motivational presence in the locker room, noting his extensive cricketing experience and collective decision-making contributions. “His presence in the dugout was a great motivation for everyone. It was a great boost for us. He came in with a lot of cricketing experience. He’s been part of the IPL for so many years. We took all the decisions collectively,” Pandit concluded.(Dubai7 realmoneygame)