Former India batter Robin Uthappa has endorsed Shreyas Iyer as the next Indian captain following his successful leadership of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL 2024 title. Uthappa believes Iyer has moved ahead of young batting star Shubman Gill in the pecking order for the future captaincy of the Indian team.
Iyer showcased exemplary leadership qualities, managing his resources well and making crucial decisions that led KKR to victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. This season marked Iyer’s second as KKR captain, after leading the team in 2022 and missing the 2023 season due to a back injury.
“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, Chandrakant Pandit and Abhishek Nayar – three very strong personalities,” Uthappa told JioCinema.
Uthappa emphasized that Iyer’s ability to work with strong personalities like Gautam Gambhir, Chandrakant Pandit, and Abhishek Nayar was a testament to his character and leadership skills. “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.
Despite facing challenges such as a back injury and being left out of the BCCI central contract list, Iyer maintained his composure and delivered an outstanding performance in IPL 2024. “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.
“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.
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