Former Indian cricketer picks Shreyas Iyer over Shubman Gill for future team's captain

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Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has voiced his support for Shreyas Iyer as a potential future captain of the Indian cricket team. 

Uthappa praised Iyer's leadership qualities after he successfully guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to victory in the IPL 2024 final against Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

According to Uthappa, Iyer showed remarkable calmness and sharp decision-making throughout the season, efficiently managing his team and making strategic use of his bowlers during critical moments. He also credited Gautam Gambhir's mentorship for helping Iyer thrive as a captain.

Uthappa believes Iyer has now surpassed young batting sensation Shubman Gill in the race to become India's next captain.

"I am going to say it here. He is going to be the future India captain. I think he is next in line, maybe even ahead of Shubman Gill. He has got the character and wherewithal to handle a team. I think there’s a lot he has learnt this season. You have got to understand that he was working with Gautam Gambhir, Chandrkant Pandit and Abhishek Nayar – three very strong personalities," Uthappa told JioCinema.

Uthappa pointed out. that navigating through the influence of these strong personalities while maintaining his own leadership style was no easy feat. Yet, Iyer succeeded, making sound decisions and showing dominance throughout the season.

"You have to navigate your way through these strong personalities throughout the season while having your way, and learning on the run. That’s not easy to navigate through an entire IPL season while performing, giving your best and making the right calls. He has done that with utter dominance. That tells you a lot about his character and what he believes he is capable of. I think because of that, he sets himself up in the right space to be in the conversation for the next Indian captain," he further added.

Uthappa praised Iyer for his resilience, noting that he only briefly mentioned his struggles before the IPL final when questioned by reporters.

"Even after going through a lot, the back injury, the World Cup snub, not getting a central contract – a lot of conjecture about what was happening with him. He barely spoke about it, I think just before the final, he touched upon it. I think that goes to show he has got his sight clear on what he is going to do for himself and the teams he plays for," he concluded.

It is worth noting that before the IPL began, Iyer faced several challenges. He was left out of the BCCI central contract list due to his back issues, missed Test matches against England, and the Ranji Trophy semi-final. Despite these setbacks, Iyer remained focused and composed during the IPL, not letting external pressures affect his performance.