New Chandigarh: Shreyas Iyer Tasted IPL captaincy for the first time in turbulent conditions. In an awkward press conference midway through the 2018 season, along with the head coach Ricky Pontinga stalwart of Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). Gautam Gambhir Poor form and the team’s embarrassing run led to a relegation. Gambhir announced Iyer as his successor.Before moving to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022, when the Delhi franchise handed over the leadership to Rishabh Pant, the Air Capitals blossomed under Ponting as a captain and a batsman. He reunited with Gambhir at KKR in 2024 and guided the franchise to the IPL title. Fateh appointed Gambhir as India’s head coach within a month, and Iyer left the franchise.
Even as Gambhir went into overdrive to revamp India’s T20I setup, Iyer remained out of contention. Turbulence has followed his career despite continued consistency. Now reunited with Ponting at Punjab Kings – both marked out of the Capitals – Iyer is rocking a campaign that could knock on the door of Gambhir’s champion T20 unit.Here on Sunday evening, Iyer will take on Pant, who now leads the Lucknow Supergiants and is fighting an uphill battle to regain his India spot after being sidelined following a victorious T20 World Cup campaign in 2024.But Iyer’s race is no longer against Pant. World Cup winning captains Surya Kumar YadavThe long slump has ushered in a tough phase for Gambhir and the selection committee.Sources told TOI that Air Surya is the most obvious alternative if and when the selectors decide to go ahead. His authority at number 4 in T20 cricket is currently unmatched in Indian cricket. The selectors showed some flexibility in the format with Pant and Shubman Gill. But certainty about Surya’s successor – especially as captain – is key.
A BCCI source told TOI, “Iyer last played a T20I in 2023. He has not been part of the current set-up. Bringing him back and giving him the captaincy immediately is a big ask.” “Attention has shifted to the 2027 ODI World Cup, giving the selectors breathing space to plan for the T20I leadership transition.”In Punjab Kings, Iyer is named Sarpanch. His unruffled and carefree demeanor was in keeping with Aghus. It arises from self-awareness. Bowling coach James Hoopes, who has been at the helm since Ponting’s Capitals days, has seen a 23-year-old transform into a 31-year-old leader in complete command.“He is very aware of what his perceived weaknesses have been over the years. He has really overcome them this season. When he got injured in Australia (in October last year), he was starting to nail them in international cricket as well,” Hoops said here on Saturday. “Once he finds his way back into the Indian team, you will see what kind of batsman he will be for the rest of his career. Captaincy improves his batting,” added Hoopes.Iyer has always been in a comfort zone around Ponting. As the captain, there is no need for hand-holding anymore. Hoopes said he was too young when he was captaining Delhi.
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“Ricky and Shreyas work well together. He is the captain when we come to our meetings. He steps up and has his own ideas, he is willing to listen,” he added.Iyer is already the vice-captain of the ODI team. It is about how the Indian team management and selectors have placed him in the T20 team.
