‘I don’t have to change’: Shreyas Iyer accepts India T20I captaincy challenge in his own way
NEW DELHI: Newly appointed India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer has made it clear that taking on the leadership role will not change who he is, insisting that he would rather stay true to the values that shaped him than try to emulate anyone else.The 31-year-old, who was named India’s new T20I captain in place of Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday, said he intends to carry the same mindset and personality that helped him navigate Mumbai’s fiercely competitive cricket culture. “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,” Iyer said.Tjesto added that he always thrived on competition and challenges from a young age.“Obviously I loved challenges growing up, especially being from Mumbai where cricket is quite big, the competition is high. Every other kid on the street wants to represent Mumbai,” he said.
“My mindset has always been about winning”
Iyer said his competitive streak has always revolved around winning and enjoying the game, which he believes helped shape his personality as a cricketer.“My mindset has always been about winning, against everyone I’ve come up against, so whether it’s learning or winning, that’s secondary, but the more fun you have growing up, the more competitive you are, especially when you’re playing cricket or any sport in general,” Iyer said.“I think it takes you to another level and you want to take that responsibility (and) even though I have this job right now, or the responsibility as a captain. It’s a big challenge at the same time,” he added.The appointment marks a remarkable comeback for Iyer, who was dropped from India’s T20I plans after his last appearance in December 2023. Now he returns not only as a middle-order batsman but also as the man tasked with leading the side in the format.His first captaincy assignment will be the two-match T20I series in Ireland.
Ganguly supports the selectors’ call
Former India captain and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly supported the decision to hand over the leadership role to Iyer, saying the Mumbai batsman had earned the honor through his performances.“Shreyas has done well, he deserved it. I wouldn’t say removing Suryakumar Yadav is unfair. The voters have made up their minds,” Ganguly said.Iyer replaces Suryakumar, who led India to the T20 World Cup title in March but was left out of the latest squad.