Shreyas Iyer shared his thoughts on captaincy, expressing the excitement and fulfillment that leadership brings him.
Shreyas Iyer: Rising from Setbacks to Challenge for India’s White-Ball Captaincy
Shreyas Iyer remains an enigma despite debuting for India in 2017. With charisma, talent, and the right attitude, he seemingly has it all—except luck. Time and again, promising moments have been derailed by untimely setbacks. During the 2023 World Cup, Iyer was India’s marathon man, seemingly destined to anchor the team for years. But a back injury followed by the BCCI stripping him of his Central Contract sent him down the pecking order, even though he barely made mistakes. Short balls once troubled him, but he has worked hard to overcome that vulnerability and now looks more assured.
True to his resilient nature, Shreyas Iyer has risen from the ashes again. According to a senior BCCI official, he has officially entered India’s captaincy race, challenging Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the next leader in white-ball formats. Riding high after a stellar season with Punjab Kings—and with Rohit approaching 40—Iyer is well poised to succeed him as India’s ODI captain. He has already demonstrated leadership credentials by guiding Delhi Capitals to their first IPL final in 2020, leading Kolkata Knight Riders to a third IPL title in 2022, and nearly taking Punjab Kings to glory in 2024.
Iyer’s form suggests he will soon be a fixture in India’s T20I and Test squads, further strengthening the leadership core. Currently captaining Sobo Mumbai Falcons in the Mumbai T20 League, he’s led them to the semi-finals with poise and confidence. On captaincy, Iyer is candid: “It brings a lot of maturity and responsibility. You are expected to perform and contribute your best because in tough times, the team looks to the captain. I’ve been captaining since I was 22, and I love the challenge of leading.”
“I just keep telling myself…”
At 30, Shreyas Iyer has joined Indian stars like Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube in the T20 Mumbai League, one of the country’s premier domestic franchise tournaments. Iyer thrives under pressure, drawing motivation from high-stakes moments to bring out his best performances. He also cherishes playing alongside teammates he has known since his childhood, adding a special sense of camaraderie to the competition.
Reflecting on the team spirit, Iyer added, “There are familiar faces in the dressing room—players I’ve shared club, school, and college cricket with. I’m really glad to be back and playing alongside my longtime teammates here.”