Respect the franchise’s decision: Shreyas Iyer on Rishabh Pant leading Delhi Capitals

Shreyas Iyer played his first game in six months Delhi Capitals registered a fluent 8-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match on Wednesday. In the encounter, Iyer scored an unbeaten 47 off 41 balls and said that he had “a really good feeling”.

In the 135-run chase, Iyer first stitched a 52-run partnership with Shikhar Dhawan and then took his side over the finish line with an unbeaten 67-run partnership with his captain Rishabh Pant.

Iyer made a comeback from the shoulder injury that he suffered during India’s home series against England in March. Due to the injury, he had to undergo surgery that ruled him out of the India leg of the IPL, as well as a stint with Lancashire.

Missing the India leg of the IPL meant that he had to give up the DC captaincy to Pant. Despite his return to the league, the management stayed with Pant as the captain.

“When I was given the captaincy, I was in a different frame of mind. My decision-making and the temperament level were really good and that had benefitted me in the last two years. But I respect the franchise’s decision. And if you see, Rishabh has been leading really well from the start of the season,” The right-handed batsman said.

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“It hasn’t changed anything drastically for me that my focus on my batting has increased many times. When I was the captain… I like to soak in the pressure. Whenever there is pressure, there is a challenge, and I do well when there’s a challenge,” Iyer said after the match.

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“Even today when I went in, the pressure was there to win the game for the side as the wicket was a bit uneven. My mindset was the same, that being a main part of the team, I have to finish the game. Whenever I play, my mindset is to stay there till the end and see to it that I make the team win,” the youngster said about the match.