Shreyas Iyer is expected to miss out on a significant amount of cricket and TATA IPL 2023 due to his lower back injury. He complained of lower back pain during the ongoing test match against Australia and was immediately sent for scans. Shreyas Iyer did not come out to bat during the entire game. The reports have returned and they are not very promising as reported by various media outlets. It is said, that Iyer can miss out on the initial phase or the entire TATA IPL 2023 due to this recurring injury.
Captaincy is a very important part of cricket. “A captain can make it or break it!”. Shreyas was supposed to be the leader of the Kolkata Knight Riders this season. In his absence, the Kolkata Knight Riders will now have to look for other options. So, here are 3 captaincy options for the Kolkata Knight Riders in absence of Shreyas Iyer:
Shakib Al Hasan can be the captain in absence of Shreyas Iyer:
Shakib Al Hasan can be the front-runner for this job. He has the most experience in this field. He was the captain of the Bangladesh squad for a significant amount of time. Shakib has been associated with the Kolkata Knight Riders for quite some time as well. He is very well known to the management. A respected member of the cricket community, Shakib is an authoritative figure on the field. He has been a part of the IPL since its inception and can add a lot of value if he is given the role. Here is a look at his captaincy numbers:
| Matches (As a captain in T20Is) | 37 |
| Runs | 725 |
| Wickets | 37 |
Andre Russell/Sunil Narine:
Andre Russell or Sunil Narine can be the skipper in absence of Shreyas Iyer as well. Both Caribbean players have a world full of experience. They have great knowledge about the T20 format as well. Playing freelance cricket all across the globe has given them a good sense of man-management. Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are both two-time T20 World Cup Champions. Both the players have all-round abilities and can give inputs in both departments. They have been groomed under some good leaders like Darren Sammy, Gautam Gambhir, and Kieron Pollard.
Honorable Mentions:
- Tim Southee
Nitish Rana can be the Captain in Absence of Shreyas Iyer:
Nitish Rana, the captain of the Delhi Ranji team can also be given this responsibility. This is a very good option as the IPL is about giving opportunities to youngsters. The motto of the TATA IPL is “Where Talent Meets Opportunity”. Based on these lines Rana can certainly be given a chance. Nitish Rana has the ability and has shown good numbers with the Delhi team. Rana has been associated with the franchise for the past 5 years. He will also have to take responsibility for batting in the absence of Shreyas Iyer.
To know more go to Rohit Sharma: “Ashwin and Jadeja’s Shoes Are Big Ones to Fill”. India VS Australia 2023.
Read more such articles at TATA IPL 2023: BCCI Furious with NCA After Repeating Injuries. List of All Injured Players Before TATA IPL 2023.
To know more go to the official website of the Kolkata Knight Riders.