Shreyas Iyer will be one of India's best captains: Sister Shrestha backs brother
Shreyas Iyer's sister Shrestha brushed aside criticism following India's record five-match winless run in T20Is. She expressed confidence that her brother would eventually be counted among India's greatest captains.
Shreyas Iyer's difficult start as India's T20I captain has found a staunch defender in his sister, Shrestha, who believes the batter is destined to become one of the country's finest leaders despite a winless beginning to his tenure.
India slumped to their fifth consecutive T20I without a victory after a crushing 125-run defeat to England in the third T20I at Trent Bridge on Tuesday. It is the first time in India's T20I history that the team has gone five successive matches without registering a win. The run includes a 2-0 series defeat to Ireland in Belfast, followed by defeats in the opening two completed T20Is against England.
Amid the criticism, Shrestha threw her weight behind her brother, insisting that every great cricketer has endured difficult phases.
"There is Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli is a legend, Rohit Sharma is a legend, and Sachin Tendulkar is a legend, and even they have all lost plenty of matches too," Shrestha said in an interview with Filmygyan.
His time is coming: Shrestha predicts captaincy greatness
Shrestha urged fans and critics not to single out Iyer for India's struggles, saying the team's poor run should not define his leadership credentials.
"But if you keep calling out Shreyas Iyer all the time, then maybe the problem lies with you, not him. I feel he is amazing. He has a very different personality overall, and I think he has a lot to offer, probably more than anyone else. I know he has so much to give," she said.
She went a step further by predicting that the current rough patch would eventually give way to a successful captaincy career.
"And that time is coming very soon, touch wood, touch wood. Very soon, people will say that Shreyas Iyer is one of India's best captains. I truly believe it's there. In fact, I think it's already happening," Shrestha added.
The faith from his family comes at a time when Iyer is under mounting scrutiny. India were stunned 2-0 by Ireland in his first assignment as captain before suffering defeats in the ongoing England series, including the record loss at Trent Bridge.
The heavy loss in Nottingham also extended Iyer's wait for his maiden win as India's full-time T20I captain. The 31-year-old admitted his side played "atrocious" cricket after they were bowled out for just 76 while chasing 202, India's biggest defeat by runs in T20Is.
With two matches still remaining in England, Iyer will be desperate to end India's unprecedented winless streak and silence his critics with his first victory as the national T20I captain.