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Shreyas Iyer bites back, makes critics count his laurels: 'I offer a lot as captain. Wasn’t fully in the mix...'
Shreyas Iyer stressed that the freedom and support from coaches, management, and teammates allowed him to express himself fully as both a leader and a player.
Shreyas Iyer has steadily cemented his reputation as one of the reliable leaders in the IPL in recent seasons, becoming the rare player to guide three different franchises to the final of the tournament. His rise as a captain has been nothing short of impressive. Iyer first displayed his leadership qualities with the Delhi Capitals, taking them to their maiden final in 2020. He then moved to Kolkata Knight Riders, where his sharp decision-making and composure under pressure played a key role in their title-winning campaign in 2025. After not being retained by KKR, Iyer switched to Punjab Kings last year and immediately made an impact by guiding them to their first final in over a decade. His calm temperament, astute tactical choices, and ability to bring out the best in his players have given each side he has led a new edge, while his consistency with the bat has further strengthened his credentials as a complete leader.
Iyer talked about leading PBKS last season, highlighting the trust and backing he received from the franchise. The stylish batter stressed that the freedom and support from coaches, management, and teammates allowed him to express himself fully as both a leader and a player.
"I offer a lot as a captain and player. Punjab gave me all the support I needed from coaches, management, and players. I was able to contribute in meetings and make decisions on and off the field," Iyer told GQ.
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“I wasn’t fully in the mix at KKR…”: Shreyas Iyer
However, he didn't have something similar to say about his time at KKR and said he wasn’t fully in the mix.
"I was part of the conversation, but I wasn’t fully in the mix. I’ve had to work my way up to get to this position," he added.
When he joined PBKS, Iyer was under pressure from the massive price tag of INR 26.75 crore, but he did form a solid partnership with head coach Ricky Ponting to turn things around at the franchise, which has yet to win an IPL title. He took them to their second IPL final, but they failed to win back-to-back titles as skipper.
