In a remarkable disclosure that may stir the cricketing fraternity, former BCCI chief selector MSK Prasad has come forward with the information that Shreyas Iyer, a gifted India batter, was once in the pipeline to be shaped as a prospective captain for the Indian cricket team. Shreyas Iyer, whose cricketing finesse has often made headlines, faced a setback as he was overlooked for the T20 World Cup 2024 squad, despite some pundits suggesting he was being eyed as a future leader within the team’s ranks.
Shreyas, a prominent talent, also missed out on a BCCI central contract after his absence from playing domestic cricket, at a time when he was not engaged in national duties. However, during his tenure with Mumbai and his compelling performances for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024, he demonstrated his capability with the bat. But even with this display of skill, the selectors disregarded him when making their selections for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Prasad, whose term as BCCI chief selector spanned from 2016 to 2020, acknowledged that Shreyas Iyer caught the selection committee’s eye with his leadership acumen while he was at the forefront of the India A team. “If you go back to the stats, in the last two years, when we were at the helm, Shreyas Iyer led the side (India A). I think out of the 10 series that India A played, we won 8. In the majority of those series, Shreyas led the side. He has been in and around as captain. He has been groomed for that particular slot,” Prasad revealed in an interview on RevSportz.
He further mentioned, “We felt that post Virat, post Rohit Sharma, you needed someone to lead the side that’s when we started thinking about Shreyas Iyer or Rishabh Pant. But even ahead of Pant, was Iyer as a captain,” thus underscoring the strategic vision the selectors had for the team’s future leadership.
Apart from his national experiences, Iyer’s stewardship role at the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders was a topic Prasad did not shy away from. Prasad opined that Iyer is “slowly maturing into a very good leader,” underlining the importance of robust team management at the beginning of one’s captaincy journey. He noted Iyer is enjoying the support he needs from KKR, and with the franchise willing to invest time and resources in him, the next two or three years may see the development of Shreyas into an exemplary captain.
This news has likely resonated with fervent cricket fans and followers who eagerly track team selections and leadership changes. Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from the World Cup squad, therefore, brings about discussions on the BCCI’s processes in talent nurturing and the dynamics of leadership roles in the team.
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