(BCCI Photo)
Robin Uthappa, ex-KKR batsman, has forecasted that Shreyas Iyer is poised to assume the mantle of the Indian cricket team captaincy. Uthappa emphasized that Iyer possesses all the necessary attributes to thrive in the role for India.
Former KKR cricketer Robin Uthappa has showered praise on Shreyas Iyer following his victorious stint as captain during the Indian Premier League 2024 campaign. Iyer, who made a comeback to the tournament after sitting out the previous season due to a back injury, adeptly managed the high-profile personalities within the KKR coaching staff, resulting in several memorable performances.
Despite exhibiting flawless decision-making on the field, many believed that Iyer’s captaincy went unrecognized during the tournament. Speaking on Jio Cinema, former Indian batsman Robin Uthappa commended Iyer’s leadership and suggested that he could be the next contender for the captaincy role in the Indian cricket team.
“I am going to say it here. He is going to be the future India captain. I think he is next in line, maybe even ahead of Shubman Gill. He has got the character and wherewithal to handle a team. I think there’s a lot he has learnt this season. You have got to understand that he was working with Gautam Gambhir, Chandrkant Pandit and Abhishek Nayar – three very strong personalities,” Uthappa said about Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy.
“You have to navigate your way through these strong personalities throughout the season while having your way, and learning on the run. That’s not easy to navigate through an entire IPL season while performing, giving your best and making the right calls. He has done that with utter dominance. That tells you a lot about his character and what he believes he is capable of. I think because of that, he sets himself up in the right space to be in the conversation for the next Indian captain,” Uthappa further added.
“Even after going through a lot, the back injury, the World Cup snub, not getting a central contract – a lot of conjecture about what was happening with him. He barely spoke about it, I think just before the final, he touched upon it. I think that goes to show he has got his sight clear on what he is going to do for himself and the teams he plays for,” Uthappa said.
Before the Indian Premier League, Shreyas Iyer faced challenges both physically and mentally. He found himself sidelined from the India Test team due to an injury, drawing criticism for his fitness level and tendency to get injured. Additionally, he was omitted from the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Despite these setbacks, Robin Uthappa highlighted Iyer’s remarkable ability to maintain focus, set aside these distractions, and consistently deliver strong performances for KKR.
“I think it’s just the beginning of the leader that we are going to see Shreyas Iyer is going to be,” concluded the former KKR batter.
Midway through the season, KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit had spoken about Shreyas Iyer’s snub from the World Cup side. Pandit had said that it did not bother Iyer as he was able to shut down the outside noise and distractions.
