Consistent Leadership for a Team with Serial Transition
Punjab Kings is renowned for having serial captain changes. Shreyas Iyer got that kind of team. Since taking over as captain, he showed significant improvement this IPL season. He has been in top form with the bat and with captaincy too. Under him, Punjab won 8 out of 12 matches played so far.
A Sole Record as Captain
Shreyas Iyer has broken a sole IPL record. He is the sole captain in the history of IPL who has taken three teams to the playoffs. Earlier, he had taken Delhi Capitals to the playoffs. He captained Kolkata Knight Riders and guided them to the title of IPL last season. Even then, Kolkata could not retain him. In the following mega auction, Punjab bought him for ₹26.75 crores. Since then, Iyer has justified the team. His planning and leadership are much appreciated.
Impact With the Bat
A good skipper should be good with the bat as well. Iyer has demonstrated this. He has batted at number three and has scored 435 runs. He has hit an unbeaten 97 in a match. Though he could have hit a century, he batted for the good of the team. His batting enabled Punjab to win crucial matches this year.
Recognition Still Questionable
Some complain that Iyer did not receive adequate credit for Kolkata's championship victory. The team released him following the win. Many thought that more praise was heaped upon mentor Gautam Gambhir. The issue was recently debated by erstwhile cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. He expressed that the captain deserves more praise than someone sitting in the dugout. Gavaskar further said that this season, Shreyas is finally being given his rightful place. He also pointed out that no one is giving credit to Punjab's coach Ricky Ponting, indicating leadership is more involved.
Strong Performances in Other Tournaments
Shreyas Iyer has also made strong performances in other tournaments. In the recent Champions Trophy, he was the top scorer for Team India. His performance resulted in India winning the championship. He is now expected by people to deliver Punjab its first-ever IPL title.
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