Shreyas Iyer Unfazed by Lack of Recognition as Leader, Credits Gautam

Shreyas Iyer, the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has led his team to the IPL final twice in the past four years. Despite his success, Iyer remains unfazed by the lack of recognition he receives as a leader, acknowledging the significant contributions of his mentor, Gautam Gambhir.

Iyer's leadership qualities were evident in 2020 when he guided the Delhi Capitals to the IPL title clash. Now, he has steered KKR to the summit match of this edition, where they will face the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.

When asked about the perceived lack of recognition for his leadership achievements, Iyer responded assertively, "The hype is definitely created by you guys (media). Where I stand (as a skipper) is definitely on you (to decide)."

Iyer praised Gambhir's invaluable contributions as a mentor, describing him as one of the finest readers of the game in the T20 format. "About Gautam bhai, I feel he has got immense knowledge about how the game is played. He has won two titles previously with KKR, and his strategies have been spot-on in terms of what execution we have to make against the opposition."

Iyer expressed confidence in KKR's victory over SRH, attributing it to Gambhir's astute guidance from the dugout. "Hopefully, we keep continuing with the same momentum with his knowledge."

The past six months have been a rollercoaster for Iyer. His initial reluctance to play red-ball domestic cricket resulted in the loss of his BCCI central contract. However, he returned to play the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha, scoring a crucial 95 in the second innings.

Despite a middling IPL season and being overlooked for the T20 World Cup squad, Iyer has remained focused on his performance. He admitted to struggling with a back injury after the World Cup, but emphasized that he has put those concerns behind him.

"When IPL was approaching, all I wanted was to put my best foot forward. Whatever planning and strategizing we did before it and executing it to the best of our abilities, and that's where we are right now," he said.

Iyer acknowledged the challenges of transitioning from red-ball to white-ball cricket, but stressed the importance of staying focused on the task at hand. "All I did was stay in the present and not think about what was going to happen to me or was worried about the selection process. I just wanted to come and participate and play to the best of my abilities."

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