KKR Head Coach Hopes for Iyer's Speedy recovery; Puts Faith in Rana's Leadership
Nitish Rana to lead KKR [Twitter]
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are currently facing a setback as their captain, Shreyas Iyer, has been sidelined from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 due to a recurring back injury. The 28-year-old's absence has created a void in KKR's batting lineup and had left the management looking for a new captain. The two-time IPL champions decided to name Nitish Rana as the interim captain for the season.
In an interview with Cricbuzz, KKR's head coach, Chandrakant Pandit, expressed his disappointment over Iyer's unavailability, calling it an "unfortunate thing." He emphasized the Mumbai based cricketer's importance to the team and stated that his absence would certainly be felt. Pandit, however, remained optimistic and hoped that Iyer would make a speedy recovery and return to the team soon.
“Shreyas's absence will make a difference since he is important, but this is truly unfortunate. We are hoping Shreyas will be back very soon and that will make a lot of difference to the team,” said Pandit.
With Iyer out, KKR's management has backed Rana as the team's new captain. In Pandit's opinion, the dynamic left-hander is a capable player, having been with KKR for a long time and boasting a strong domestic record. He believes that the southpaw has the necessary skills to handle the role of captain, and the decision was made with careful consideration.
“When we select players and give responsibility to players, we see who is capable. And Nitish is capable. He has been with KKR for a long time and also has a strong domestic record. Like they say, 'all boxes to be ticked' and it has come down to that. I am comfortable knowing he can handle the role," concluded the erstwhile cricketer.
Despite Iyer's absence, KKR remains confident heading into their first IPL match against Punjab Kings on April 2.
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