New Delhi, Oct. 31 -- It is no fluke that Indian cricket finds new leaders so easily. Look at how captaincy has changed hands in men's cricket, notably in the T20 International format. From Mahendra Singh Dhoni winning the World Cup in 2007 to Virat Kohli taking over the mantle and Rohit Sharma winning the trophy again in 2024, in the West Indies, the ride was smooth.

Then came the next phase, when Suryakumar Yadav, described as a 360-degree batter, made waves and took on the leadership role. His batting, however, went into a skid, notably during the ICC T20 World Cup this year, when India emerged champions in Ahmedabad. If Surya was hoping he would still hang around, the riot act was read out to him. He lost his place as well as the captaincy, as his runs had dried up. There is simply no place today for non-performers.

It is to the credit of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) think-tank that it did not waste too much time in finding the next captain. Cricket has many experts. From those who have played international cricket to those who have played domestic cricket at a high level, there are any number of influencers. Be it TV commentators, people who rake in views on YouTube across several languages, or columnists, many keep advising what the next course of action should be.

Mercifully, the BCCI does not fall for all the gibberish that is written or spoken about the game. It has a mind of its own, and its think-tank takes decisions independently. In that journey, elevating Shreyas Iyer as the T20 captain and naming Tilak Varma as his deputy seems to be a step in the right direction.

Critics are aplenty, and Shreyas, despite delivering good, consistent results in the Indian Premier League across teams, has not been everyone's favourite. Frankly speaking, Shreyas is that cool dude who does not ruffle feathers. So, when he became captain, there were many debates. One school of thought said he was only a 'club cricketer' who had done well only in the IPL. Pray, was it his fault that he was not part of the India T20 side for years? Perhaps Ajit Agarkar, the outgoing chairman of the BCCI selection committee, can answer that. He has taken credit for a lot of good results in Indian cricket. Then again, to think that Agarkar alone was taking all the decisions would be wrong.

The BCCI does maintain tight control through its present secretary, Devjit Saikia, and president, Mithun Manhas. After all, both came into power with the blessings of the top bosses. Shreyas is a cricketer who has worked hard. That he has been unlucky in his career time and again is well known. From dealing with injuries, which have been an integral part of his career, to facing adversity, he has battled the odds. Indeed, at a time when performance in the IPL is considered more important than the premier domestic cricket events such as the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shreyas has repeatedly proved his worth in the IPL.

When he won the IPL trophy for KKR in 2024, it was a high point. Now part of Punjab Kings, Shreyas is happy. He commands a big price in the market. So, if his elevation as T20 captain came amidst uncertainty, he has shown in recent months what it takes to emerge as a strong leader. We have not heard any bad stories about Iyer as captain. Yes, when he started in England this summer, the results were shaky.

People started attacking him, as the failures were seen as evidence that the wrong choice of skipper had been made. That was sheer impatience. Today, Shreyas is in firm control, without having to speak loudly or use 'plants' in the media. His two recent assignments, leading India to gold at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and winning the T20 series against New Zealand, are positives for Shreyas.

What is heartening is that Shreyas is in sync with coach Gautam Gambhir, someone who has his own plans and blueprint. With Tilak Varma as vice-captain, the team is now ready to dominate. Defeating the Kiwis in conditions that are very different from those in India is not easy. Yes, one has seen high scores from the Kiwis, but what mattered was that the Indian batters also did well.

It is not about Shreyas himself having to score runs; the top order looks so solid. Shreyas has led with calmness, even as the bowling unit has faced some uncertain moments. Where India looks world-class is at the top of the batting order, where the assurance of Sanju Samson and the blitz and pace of Abhishek Sharma, who has been smashing records, have caught the eye.

Abhishek Sharma, seen as a Yuvraj Singh protege, has gone places. His whirlwind century against the Kiwis on October 27, when he scored 113 runs off 38 balls, was a blitzkrieg. Abhishek then struck that famous yoga pose in the middle, as if he were in meditation. The batter has spoken about the support he receives from his captain, something that has also been mentioned by Tilak Varma.

More importantly, the way Shreyas has used young star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is also significant. Vaibhav may have been made to wait, but Shreyas is clear that there is no need to rush or ensure that the young 15-year-old plays every match. Definitely, the 15-year-old from Bihar, who also plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, is one of the most exciting finds of recent years. So, Shreyas has at his disposal plenty of talented cricketers who can serve India well.

Add players such as Naman Dhir, who can bat and bowl, and India looks well settled in T20 cricket. This is just one aspect. Shreyas knows that he is now trusted, and the BCCI places faith in him as an ODI player as well. He has scored 3,136 runs in 82 ODIs, which includes five centuries. In this format too, Shreyas is looked upon as a leader of sorts. He is deputy to Shubman Gill, but in a few matches later in New Zealand, in the ODIs, Shreyas will be the captain.

Indeed, the focus for Indian cricket is three-pronged. Doing well in the Test format is important, even as the 2027 ODI World Cup is being hyped up. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also now in New Zealand, they will continue to grab headlines. But then, Shreyas as an ODI batter is equally important for India. His adaptability matters, and he can put his experience to good use.

So, truly, Shreyas is a real 'find' for Indian cricket, even though the amount of international cricket he has missed across formats is considerable. The good part is that, in Indian cricket, age is not being held against players, nor is their absence from international cricket. Shreyas will turn 32 in December. He still has a good number of years left in him, and he has placed a premium on his fitness.

Looking at the cricket calendar leading up to 2028, Shreyas has to keep himself fit, bat well, score runs and be a good leader. Once the euphoria over the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup is over, it will be time for two important assignments in 2028. The World Cup and, even bigger, the Los Angeles Olympics are vital. Cricket's inclusion in the Olympics is a big thing, and Shreyas has a great chance of achieving Olympic glory.

Maybe, a year ago, or even during the last few IPL seasons, he may not have thought of making it this big. Surely, the Indian T20 captain, who has had a good rapport with IPL team bosses, is a man who is conscious of his image. Shreyas has steered clear of controversies. To achieve that in Indian cricket is a big thing, especially if one looks at history.

When he speaks to the media, both on television and in print, Shreyas comes across as mature and keeps his emotions in check. He is a good leader who needs more backing from all of us. At least, Shreyas is producing results without making noise.

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The changing face of Indian captaincy

Indian cricket has traditionally associated captaincy with its biggest batting stars. From Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, individual stature has often influenced perceptions of leadership. However, the expanding talent pool and growing demands of international cricket are gradually challenging that convention.

The IPL has also changed how leadership potential is assessed. Franchise cricket offers players opportunities to handle international stars, work with overseas coaches and make decisions under intense pressure. These experiences have created an alternative pathway to captaincy, particularly for cricketers who may not be automatic selections across all three formats.

Another significant change is the increasing acceptance of different captains for different formats. Rather than depending on one individual throughout the calendar, teams can distribute responsibilities according to experience, availability and specialised skills. For India, this evolution could make leadership succession less disruptive while allowing players to concentrate on their strongest formats.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.