IPL 2021 | Shreyas Iyer vows stronger comeback, doesn't fear 'competition' for spots in WT20 squad

Having sat out for the first part of the Indian Premier League, the Delhi Capitals captain for the last three years, Shreyas Iyer is vowing to make a strong comeback in the second part of the tournament. 

He had missed out from the competitions after dislocating his shoulder in the ODI series against England preceding the IPL and the Capitals made a strong start in the season under the captaincy of Rishabh Pant.

Iyer credited the success of the Capitals, whom he rated as a “warrior”, to the “environment” of the side from the 2019 edition. He said that he understands the “DNA” of the Capitals that they will come hard in the second half to go all the way in this edition after missing out in the finals last year.

"Unfortunately, IPL had to be stopped mid-season, but it has presented me with the opportunity again and I will, as a player and as someone who understands the DNA of our team, will do everything in my role to see the dream of our fans come true. I would reckon our first half performance this season is a result of the environment we had created in 2019 and 2020. Last year, we came so close to winning IPL," Shreyas said in an interview with PTI.

"Over the last two years, we have transformed DC into a warrior side. That has come from the system and process we had put in place and thanks to the management in trusting my abilities to be able to deliver for the team," feels Shreyas.

Iyer was handed over the captaincy of the Capitals midway through the 2018 edition in a drive of backing youth by the franchise while the team was struggling to make a mark in the leadership of Gautam Gambhir. Having led the side successfully for two consecutive seasons, Iyer sees himself as a “better cricketer”, who has developed a better outlook of the game and leadership quality.

"Captaincy at Delhi Capitals has made me a better cricketer. I look at things, situations, the sport differently. It has improved my temperamental skills, my man-management skills as a leader. Ricky Ponting has been very supportive on that," he added.

Iyer had established his place at the number four position in white-ball cricket before some middling scores put him under pressure amid rising stocks of players such as Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav. He was well-positioned in the Indian ODI and T20 playing XI but the injury and high performances of Pant at his place do not guarantee him a place in the squad for the ICC World T20.

While playing the IPL for the Capitals, where he is likely to bat at the number three position, Iyer would have his one eye on the World T20. He had admitted a “bigger appetite” for runs in the IPL to stake a claim in the India WT20 squad but ruled out excessive impact of “competition” from his compatriots.

"Competition has always been in Indian cricket and will always be. It is a competitive sport after all. But for me, it won't be an understatement to say that I have a bigger appetite now. Look, my competition has always been with myself. It's You vs You. It has worked out well for me in the past, for how I have played this sport so far, and I have no reason to doubt myself that I can't repeat and achieve that again and more,” Iyer asserted.

There is a lack of clarity about Iyer’s comeback to the Capitals’ captaincy as he was not part of the initial squad. He is eligible to play in the tournament as a batsman but there has not been any official communication from either the IPL or the Capitals management about who will lead the side in the second part of the tournament starting on September 19 in the UAE.