Failures are often stepping stones to success, and Shreyas Iyer exemplified this as he led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title this season. Despite a challenging personal year, where he was dropped by the BCCI, Iyer’s resilience shone through. Although he didn’t have a standout season with the bat, scoring a modest 351 runs in 14 group stage matches, his leadership proved invaluable.

Shreyas Iyer’s strategic acumen was on full display as he guided KKR to nine wins in the group stage. His astute decision-making and effective bowler rotations were particularly crucial during the playoffs. KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit highlighted Iyer’s journey and growth, especially after his BCCI contract snub earlier this year.

“Any player would be disappointed with that,” Chandrakant Pandit said in an interview with the Times of India. “However, that should not affect his performance. Whenever we discussed anything, we never touched upon that point. We were clear that the task at hand was more important.” Pandit recalled Iyer’s determination, quoting him saying, “‘Sir, I’ll prove it.’ The way he has batted in this IPL, he now seems to be a more matured, sensible batsman.”

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Chandrakant Pandit praised Iyer’s captaincy, describing him as calm, cool, and receptive to suggestions. He even suggested that Iyer possesses the qualities needed for future leadership of the Indian cricket team.

“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,”Chandrakant Pandit stated.

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Much of KKR’s success was also attributed to the motivational presence of mentor and former skipper Gautam Gambhir. Pandit described Gambhir’s influence in the locker room as significant, providing a boost to the team. “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,” Chandrakant Pandit added.

Overall, Shreyas Iyer’s journey this season is a testament to perseverance and effective leadership, proving that setbacks can indeed be catalysts for greater achievements.