IPL 2022: Shreyas Iyer addresses his teammates as the Kolkata Knight Riders captain for the first time

Kolkata Knight Riders are one of the three teams besides Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore who will have a new captain in IPL 2022. The Purple and Gold franchise made former Delhi Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer their captain after acquiring him for INR 12.25 crore.

The 27-year-old led Delhi Capitals with distinction and the team became extremely impressive and consistent during his leadership. He will be hoping to have a similar effect on Kolkata Knight Riders who had finished runners-up in IPL 2021.

On Monday, the two-time IPL winning franchise shared a video of their new captain interacting with the team. Head coach Brendon McCullum welcomed Shreyas Iyer into the fold and asked him to share his thoughts with the rest of the boys.

“Really happy to see all of you guys. I know it’s not the time where we are supposed to get together or gel along. We didn’t get that much time to basically know each other but whenever I look at you guys I see the leadership qualities in each and every one.

“You all have been a match-winner in your own way – for KKR, for your international teams and also for the domestic teams for the players who have come in right now,” said Iyer in his introductory speech.

The right-hander has been in unbelievable form in international cricket over the past few months. He notched up 204 runs in three innings against Sri Lanka without getting dismissed, thus setting a record for India in T20I cricket. He followed it up with scores of 27, 92 and 67 during the Test series. Iyer’s form brings plenty of hopes for Knight Riders supporters and he stated that the players will need to back each other during the course of the tournament.

“We need to care for each other as a team because there will be tough times. There will be bad times, there will be good times as well. We need to support each other along the way and also block out the expectations from outside. At the end of the day, it’s going to be us who are going to be supporting each other on the field.

“Let us try and create that formidable relationship on and off the field and propel on the field. Let’s get started,” he signed off.