As a captain, Shreyas Iyer impressed one and all in the last year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) as he led Delhi Capitals to the play-offs for the first time in seven years.
WATCH: Shreyas Iyer betters skipper Virat Kohli; aces hop push-ups using sofas
Iyer is hoping to better that result this time and he is looking forward to the upcoming IPL in UAE as one of his “most important assignments”.
“It’s certainly very different from last season, but challenges excite me,” Iyer told IPLT20.com.
“As a captain, this is going to be certainly one of my most important assignments just because of how different the setting is. It is going to be very different, the key is to take it one day at a time.
“We’re being briefed about the do’s and don’ts at every step, it’s crucial that everyone who is part of our team bubble follows that.”
COVID-19 pandemic forced the BCCI to shift the IPL 2020 to UAE. The sixty-game event, for which a detailed itinerary is yet awaited, will be played across venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah from September 19 to November 10.
Iyer called for consistency from all his teammates if they are to go all the way this year.
“All pieces of the puzzle need to fall in the right place to be a champion team,” he said.
“But the IPL is a long tournament and results keep going up and down invariably.
“The one thing that worked for us last season for how in each and every match, different players stepped up to the occasion and that was crucial to our success and will be key this year too. Having not just one consistent performer but many of them.”
Shreyas Iyer also highlighted the importance of having seasoned campaigners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane, in their ranks for this season.
The Capitals traded in both Ashwin and Rahane last year before the auction in December. While Ashwin came on board after leading Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), Rahane was the skipper for Rajasthan Royals (RR) and their batting mainstay until last year.
“Ashwin and Rahane add tremendous depth to our side and give Ricky and me options to be flexible with our playing XI depending on where we’re playing, who our opposition is and where we are placed in the tournament at a particular time,” he said.
“Also these are two individuals who are highly knowledgeable about the game and have captained IPL teams, so for me as captain, this is an opportunity to use all experience and reach out to them whenever I want to share or discuss anything at all.”
Iyer said he is blessed to be working alongside Australian legend Ricky Ponting, who is the head coach of the Delhi-based franchise.
“He’s such a legend and makes everyone, from the senior-most to the newest guy feel at home and as a part of this unit. As a captain, he gives me freedom and that has helped me grow as a cricketer.”
