When setbacks strike, rise like Shreyas Iyer- a born leader India almost let slip

Shreyas Iyer (Source: @Sivy_Raina3/x.com)

Think superheroes can do everything? But the real heroes are those who bounce back from crushing setbacks and stun the world with their brilliance. Would you believe it? Real life may witness an example like this very rarely, but the sports world lives through this.

In this cricket world, stars are born from the ashes, as when the comeback looks impossible, they defy all the odds and grace the age. The Indian cricket team has seen many comeback stories, but a Phoenix like Shreyas Iyer is a generational talent.

Despite being one of the best middle-order batters, he stayed out of the game frequently while dealing with injuries. Think that stopped him from greatness? Then wait, he cherished every game, shone in every given chances and carved his own legacy.

Many thought his talent and grit made him India’s next captain, but reality had other plans. Being too good wasn’t enough, as the team management only teased him with the captaincy. From destined to be to could have been, Shreyas Iyer deserved more.

Mumbai sees the flame, and India lets Iyer burn bright

In a cricket-crazy nation like India, talent is everywhere, but many promising stars fade without a stage to shine. But luckily, Mumbai cricket spotted Shreyas Iyer at an early stage, and India’s future looked bright. Since the under-19 stage, the young Mumbai prodigy sparked his inner fire, and the state cricket didn’t let it die.

Impressive domestic outings, record-breaking IPL seasons, and some masterclasses pushed him towards his biggest dream as he wore the iconic India blue in November 2017. The start wasn’t easy, snubs and near-misses tested him, but Iyer defied all odds, turning every challenge into a showcase of sheer brilliance.

India was in search of a responsible middle-order batter, and Shreyas Iyer emerged as a perfect candidate for the role. Along with limited-over formats, he brought out his expertise even in the red-ball format.

From Debut Test hundreds to be the biggest hope for the Me in Blue in the limited over format, the career graph was rising just the way Iyer may have imagined. Just as whispers of him becoming India’s next superstar grew louder, fate had a dramatic twist waiting.

Iyer turns every injury into a test of iron will

Gold may be the most malleable metal, but it takes heat, pressure, and countless steps to become a precious ornament. In the same way, cricket tests true talent, and Shreyas Iyer faced those challenges head-on to prove his brilliance. Starting his career in Virat Kohli’s captaincy era, he sharpened his wings to become the next big face of Indian cricket in the ‘Hitman era’.

Just as things looked settled, waves of unfortunate injuries blocked his road to greatness. During an ODI series against England, a serious shoulder injury struck, forcing him out of the entire series. The setback didn’t stop there; he missed a huge chunk of IPL 2021, losing the captaincy of Delhi Capitals in the process.

After recovering from injury, he bounced back and made his Test debut in November that year. Scoring a century along with a fifty in the debut game, he turned heads. Riding high on a phenomenal 2022, his momentum seemed unstoppable until the setbacks came crashing back in 2023.

During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he struggled with severe back pain that led to major surgery, sidelining him for months and making him miss IPL 2023. But channeling his inner fire-power, he made a stunning comeback during the Asia Cup.

It says when life tests a person, setbacks come from all directions, but those who walk through them with a brave heart become the real winners. Injuries have thrown googlies to Iyer, but the Mumbai batter smashed all of them out of the park.

From KKR’s brave Knight to Punjab’s Sarpanch Saab: Shreyas rules the captaincy game

Indian cricket has seen some of the players with generational talent, but only some have shown the real captaincy spark. A captain isn’t just a leader on paper; they back their players, step up when it matters, and take charge in every crisis. While many try to master even one of these qualities, Shreyas Iyer ticked all the boxes like a real boss.

Captaincy came as a big challenge for him in 2018, when the Delhi Daredevils trusted him as their main sailor in mid-season. The 23-year-old took it in stride, fighting a fearless battle and shaping a young team into a contender. By 2020, he led them to their first IPL final, and though fate wasn’t on their side, the world witnessed the rise of 'Captain Iyer’.

When he joined KKR in 2022, the first year went into a little turmoil, but 2024 saw a miracle. From 2015 to 2023, the franchise went through a lot to secure its third title until captain Iyer took charge with full force. Dominating the tournament from start to finish, he led KKR to their third title, ending a ten-year wait and proving why they call him a miracle worker.

Think you’ve seen it all? Wait till you hear the brave tale of Punjab Kings’ very own ‘Sarpanch Saab’. In the IPL world, the franchise barely made headlines until captain Iyer walked it with ‘Fire’. Joining the franchise last year, he led the team to the final in his first stint.

If captaincy is an art, Shreyas Iyer is a master artist for sure. From steering Mumbai to domestic glory, lifting the IPL trophy with KKR, to taking Punjab Kings to their dream stage, he has aced every test. The world didn’t just see a captain; they witnessed a true leader in action.

India's blazer stays distant while captain Iyer is left waiting

Since the beginning, India have cheriesh some of the iconic captains, and when it came as Rohit Sharma’s perfect successor, fans could think about only one name, ‘Shreyas Iyer’. But life doesn’t follow a straight path; it carves its own twists and turns, testing even the brightest stars.

With the perfect mix of Virat Kohli’s fiery attitude and Rohit Sharma’s tactical brilliance, Iyer was supposed to be the next leader, but fate took another fateful turn for him. Shubman Gill succeeded Hitman as Shreyas Iyer remained on the sidelines.

He proved his brilliance in every given chance, whether as a player or as a captain, but was left just some inches away from the finishing line. The captaincy may have slipped through his fingers, but the world witnessed a leader destined for greatness, only to be denied in the cruelest twist of fate.

Whenever life hits hard, think of Shreyas Iyer, a true leader who checked every box yet found himself sidelined. He may not don the captaincy hat, but team India will always need his leadership skills.