NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer’s triumphant moment as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain, lifting the IPL Trophy in Chennai on Sunday, evoked memories of Lionel Messi’s iconic FIFA World Cup celebration. For Iyer, it was a personal victory akin to Argentina’s glory, considering the obstacles he had to overcome.
Iyer’s path to success was fraught with difficulties, including the termination of his central contract by the BCCI mere weeks before the IPL commenced. A persistent back injury also loomed as a potential hindrance. Despite these setbacks, Iyer persevered and led his team to a remarkable achievement, finding a deep sense of triumph and vindication in this victory.
For the two-time IPL champions, the wait lasted 10 years. Iyer’s success followed a challenging start to the year, echoing Messi’s redemption after the heartbreak of the 2014 World Cup final. Iyer, with the trophy in hand, took a playful walk towards his teammates, reminiscent of Messi’s celebration after Argentina’s victory in Doha.
“I am hearing a lot about Gautam Gambhir, who created a magnificent culture in the KKR team. But Shreyas Iyer, I don’t think he is getting enough credit. He deserves recognition,” said the legendary Ian Bishop. KKR defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in a one-sided final to win their third IPL title. Despite significant contributions from openers Sunil Narine and Phil Salt, the team played cohesively, topping the table with two rounds to spare and enduring just three losses.
“It is hard to express how we are feeling right now. The wait was so long. We played like invincibles throughout the season. There is so much to cherish right now,” said Iyer. It was a special moment for his childhood coach, Pravin Amre, who first tested Iyer’s character by promoting him to No. 3 from No. 7 in his maiden Ranji season in 2014-15.
“I challenged him throughout his career. I knew how strong-willed he is, and it was my job to challenge him. He always embraced challenges positively. He is a good team man,” said Amre, recalling Iyer’s impressive 153 runs in his first-class hundred against Bengal at Eden Gardens in December 2014.
By leading KKR to the final, Iyer achieved the rare feat of captaining two different franchises in the IPL summit clash. After missing the last season due to a back injury that required surgery, Iyer made a comeback in the Asia Cup and became India’s third leading run-getter in the previous year’s ODI World Cup, following Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
However, the year started poorly for him with a difficult outing in the home Test series against England, where he scored 140 runs in the first two matches before being left out for the final three Tests due to a recurring back problem. Controversy followed when he missed the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai to attend KKR’s pre-season camp. Nevertheless, Iyer returned to play for Mumbai in the semifinal and final against Vidarbha, scoring a resolute 95 in the second innings of their 42nd Ranji triumph.
Despite intense scrutiny and a rusty start to the IPL, including a two-ball duck in their opener against SRH, Iyer’s significant contributions later in the season were crucial. He finished as KKR’s fourth leading run-getter with 351 runs and two fifties, exemplifying “Captain Cool” by prioritizing the team’s cause over individual milestones. His unbeaten 58 in the crucial first qualifier against SRH anchored their tricky chase of 160.
“The way he handled the team is commendable. More than that, he is improving as a leader, and experts are appreciating his leadership qualities,” said Amre. “Success is not an accident. He has worked hard for this, handling the team and bringing out the best in everyone,” he added.
