KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit praised Shreyas Iyer’s maturity and leadership stating that Iyer’s calm and effective captaincy demonstrates his potential to become the future captain of the Indian cricket team.
Shreyas Iyer’s path from being excluded by the BCCI to guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title illustrates the notion that setbacks can pave the way for success. Despite a modest season with the bat, scoring 351 runs in 14 group stage matches, Iyer’s captaincy was pivotal in KKR’s 9 wins. His strategic skills and adept bowler rotations were instrumental in the team’s playoff success.
KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit commended Iyer’s resilience post-BCCI snub, emphasizing how it never deterred his focus on performance. Pandit highlighted Iyer’s determination to prove himself, leading to a transformation in his batting approach, showcasing maturity and sensibility.
“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. 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,” Pandit said to the Times of India.
“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,” he added.
Earlier, experts including Robin Uthappa, have touted Shreyas Iyer as a potential future captain for India, echoing sentiments shared by coach Pandit.
READ ALSO | Next India Captain? Shreyas Iyer’s Captaincy Path Revealed by Former BCCI Selector
Former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship was also lauded for its motivational impact on the team. Pandit highlighted Gambhir’s wealth of cricketing experience and collaborative decision-making approach as key factors that boosted team morale.
“His (Gambhir) 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,” he concluded.
Last Updated on May 28, 2024
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