Shreyas Iyer’s bold first words as India’s new captain: He won’t be under anyone’s shadow
India’s new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer has sent a strong message after being handed the leadership role, saying he will stay true to himself and not try to operate under someone else’s shadow. The Mumbai batsman said the captaincy is a challenge he relishes but one that won’t force him to change his personality or approach to the game.
India recently named Iyer as their new T20I captain for the upcoming tour of Ireland and England, marking the start of a new cycle of white balls. Speaking at a promotional event for the Kabuni Premier League in Mumbai, Iyer reflected on how Mumbai’s competitive cricket culture shaped his mentality and prepared him for leadership responsibilities.
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“Obviously I loved challenges growing up, especially being from Mumbai where cricket is quite big and the competition is high. Every other kid on the street wants to represent Mumbai in cricket and I faced a lot of challenges growing up. So my mind was always about winning against everyone I came up against.”
The 30-year-old explained that taking on responsibility has always motivated him and that the captaincy represents another opportunity to test himself at the highest level.
“Whether it’s learning or winning is secondary, but the more fun you have growing up, the more competitive you are, especially playing cricket or any sport in general. I think it takes you to another level and you want to take on that responsibility.”
“Even though I have this job right now as captain, it’s a big challenge. At the same time, I don’t have to change my personality. I have to be the same person I was before and not try to be someone else or be under someone’s shadow,” he added.
Iyer’s career has been a rollercoaster in the last few years, as he returns to India’s T20I set-up for the first time since December 2023. After years of proving himself as a batsman and leader in domestic and franchise cricket, he now finds himself tasked with guiding the next generation of India in the shortest format.
DID SHREYAS IYER BATH IN GAUTAM GAMBHIR?
The ‘shadow’ story goes back to the 2024 IPL season when Shreyas Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant title under Gautam Gambhir. Despite Iyer’s superb tactical acumen on the field, the cricketing world overwhelmingly attributed the triumph to the “Gambhir Effect”. This friction was compounded by persistent rumors that Shreyas felt deeply underappreciated during that run, with reports even suggesting it was the reason he subsequently left KKR to join the Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2025.
Because of this history, Iyer’s bold declaration that he would not play “under someone’s shadow” stirred rumors as an apparent dig at his former mentor. Neither man ever admitted to the rift and Gambhir actually handed Shreyas his first captaincy break of 2018 with Delhi Daredevils. But as the two wayward personalities reunite on the international stage to steer India’s new T20I cycle, the comment serves as a clear warning that Iyer intends to steer his ship entirely on his own terms.
WHY WAS SHREYAS IYER MADE THE CAPTAIN OF INDIA T20?
Iyer’s appointment is the culmination of a remarkable rise as captain during the last two IPL cycles.
He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 before leading Punjab Kings to the final in 2025, earning praise for his calm leadership style and tactical decision-making. His reputation only continued to grow despite Punjab Kings missing out on the IPL 2026 playoffs.
The Mumbai batter continued to deliver with the bat as well. After scoring his maiden IPL century in 2025, he followed it up with another impressive season in 2026, scoring 498 runs at an average of 55.23 and a strike rate of 168.81.
The selectors have finally decided to hand over the reins to him as India begin preparations for the next cycle of the T20 World Cup and Asian Games later this year.
The decision also marks the end of Suryakumar Yadav’s tenure as captain despite leading India to a successful defense of the T20 World Cup title. Suryakumar, however, reacted positively to Shreyas taking his place and being dropped from the T20I side, saying he was happy that India’s last three T20I captains had all come from Mumbai.
WHEN WILL SHREYAS IYER FIRST LEAD INDIA?
Iyer’s first assignment as India’s T20I captain will come during the upcoming tour of Ireland.
India are scheduled to play two T20Is against Ireland before traveling to England for a five-match T20I series. The tour will mark Iyer’s first opportunity to lead the national team in international cricket and begin shaping the side ahead of future global tournaments.
With vice-captain Tilak Varma, returning pacer Harshit Rana and several young players in the squad, the series is expected to offer an early glimpse into Iyer’s leadership style as India embark on a new era of T20 cricket.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
07 Jun 2026 17:02 IST