'Really enjoyed playing under him' - Shreyas Iyer details why KL Rahul is his favourite captain

Shreyas Iyer will be leading the Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming IPL 2022. He was reportedly a part of the Delhi Capitals’ mandatory retentions, but decided to part ways with the franchise after learning that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was their first-choice skipper.

As he gears up to lead a new team, the Mumbai cricketer has surprisingly picked India limited-overs vice-captain KL Rahul as his ‘favourite captain’. Giving further clarification on the same, the middle-order sensation has said that it was Rahul who showed faith in the former when he was asked to bowl.

KL Rahul’s  on-field decision making is very instinctive: Shreyas Iyer

“It was nice to play under him. Firstly, he is an outstanding player. The confidence he carries on the field and in the team meetings, the support that he provides to the players is great. He’s got a very calm demeanor and his on-field decision-making is very instinctive. I really enjoyed playing under him. Also, he gave me three overs of bowling, which none of the captains previously had done. So yeah, he’s my favorite captain!” said Iyer while speaking on Red Bull Cricket Room on Clubhouse.

Iyer had bowled three overs and went wicketless conceding 21 runs at an economy rate of seven during the third ODI against South Africa at Cape Town in January this year. KL Rahul was the stand-in captain in the ODI series. The Men In Blue went on to suffer a humiliating 0-3 whitewash.

The Karnataka cricketer will now be leading the new entrants Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022. He had led the Punjab Kings in the previous two editions, but they failed to make the playoffs. Reportedly, KL Rahul was Punjab’s first-choice retention for the upcoming season, but he decided to part ways with the franchise for better prospects and they obliged.

Both Iyer and Rahul will now be hoping to take their respective teams to new heights this time around. KKR will be facing the defending champions CSK in the curtain-raiser at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on March 26. LSG will start their campaign against the other new entrants Gujarat Titans at the same venue on March 28.