CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress / ITDC News Bhopal: Former India batter Robin Uthappa has backed Shreyas Iyer to be the next Indian captain after he led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title with a win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. Iyer displayed a calm demeanour and sharp instincts while leading KKR this season. He managed his resources well and used his bowlers well in the crunch situation, and Gautam Gambhir’s guidance also helped him flourish in the leadership role.
It was Iyer’s second season as KKR captain. He led them in the 2022 edition, where they finished seventh. Meanwhile, he missed the IPL last season due to a back injury. The Kolkata-based franchise reinstated him as captain, and interim captain for 2023 Nitish Rana switched back to Iyer’s deputy this year.
Uthappa asserted that with the IPL triumph, Iyer had moved ahead in the pecking order for the next India captain ahead of young batting star Shubman Gill.
“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, Chandrkant Pandit and Abhishek Nayar – three very strong personalities,” Uthappa said about Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy,” Uthappa told JioCinema.
The former KKR star said that it’s not easy to navigate while having strong personalities like Gautam Gambhir, Chandrkant Pandit and Abhishek Nayar in the coaching department but Iyer did well making the right calls on the field.
“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.