Shreyas Iyer Leads with Confidence and Calmness

Shreyas Iyer is not the sort of leader who yells or flaunts too much on the field but his presence and the manner in which he conducts himself speak volumes. His leadership is quiet clear and full of calm confidence. Whether it is his demeanor on the field in the face of a high-pressure game or the way he supports his young group of players Iyer leads by example and not simply issuing orders. One instance that particularly highlighted his style of leadership was a game at Chennai where the temperature and humidity were all-pervasive and the home team had amassed big in the middle overs. But Iyer did not panic or get under pressure. Rather he took courageous decisions and believed in his instincts which proved to be the turning point.

A case in point was when he directed Suyash Shedge a medium pacer of a young age to bowl a critical over despite other senior bowlers like Yuzvendra Chahal being at hand. Shedge had gone on to concede 26 runs in that over the most CSK had achieved in an over that year. But Iyer never reprimanded him or lost his temper. He remained at long-on quietly observing and walked up to Shedge only briefly after a difficult moment just to offer some words which appeared more of encouragement than advice. That was indicative of how Iyer deals with pressure not only for himself but for his teammates as well. He does not complicate matters more than they are and that sort of support makes a lot of difference to young players attempting to establish themselves.

What is interesting about Iyer's leadership is his faith in his team. When Yuzvendra Chahal was handed the 19th over even though he had been costly earlier Iyer remained unperturbed again. Despite restricted fielding possibilities owing to an over-rate penalty he only entered the inner circle once to stand at slip for Chahal's hat-trick ball. And when Chahal picked that wicket Iyer ran in immediately and hugged him proving he is present always for the big moments. His calm demeanor assists the team in concentrating without fear of erring.

This serene confidence has not escaped the notice of the team. Youngsters such as Musheer Khan and Prabhsimran Singh have spoken highly of Iyer for never talking negatively and always taking decisions with complete conviction. According to them, he accepts the results irrespective of what happens and this allows them to play freely. Even if things do not go as they had hoped, Iyer's faith in his players does not waver. This was equally evident when he selected Harpreet Brar to bowl at two left-handers in the last over of the PowerPlay something that several captains may not do. That act culminated in the crucial wicket of Ravindra Jadeja and saw PBKS victory in a crucial match against CSK who have now lost five home games.

His head coach Ricky Ponting has coached Iyer previously and maintains that he notices a great transformation in him now. Ponting opines that Iyer is more confident than ever before and believes more than ever in his decisions. Captaining and winning the IPL has provided him with the experience and confidence to bank on his instincts even in adversity. In a style like T20 where the game shifts so rapidly this consistent mindset is unusual and precious. Ponting further stated that Iyer has grown up a great deal as a player and as a captain and that all the players love working with him due to the way he speaks not only on the day of the match but also in practice and even at the hotel.

This leadership was evident in the manner in which Iyer batted during that game as well. His 72 off 41 balls was packed with intelligent strokeplay and displayed how he is able to handle a chase in pressure situations. The pitch was not very friendly the total was huge and there were no short boundaries to target but Iyer dealt with the bowling attack with class and control. Whether it was meeting Jadeja's spin or Pathirana's yorkers he remained focused and calm. It wasn't only a good inning it was the type of knock that illustrates a captain leading from the front.

Even when Iyer was dismissed and could not seal the chase himself you could notice how much it meant to him. He was by the dugout observing as the game drew to a close. His facial expressions indicated that he was really concerned about the outcome and would want to be the one to lead his team home. That is the kind of mentality that comes to the entire team. His silent confidence inspires players like Shedge who will feel equipped for the next task. Chahal will have faith that his captain thinks he can do it even when he has a bad beginning. And Musheer will continue to emulate Iyer's swagger but now he will understand that it is due to genuine confidence and composed leadership and not merely an act.

In a game where things get emotional and pressure situations arrive quickly Shreyas Iyer demonstrates how you can lead quietly. He allows his players to learn and grow gives them room to play and remains calm whatever the situation. That's what makes him not only a talented player but an actual captain.