Iyer, a T20 captain with the Midas touch

MUMBAI: Even in cricket where the captain is supreme, when you have high profile names in the coaching staff, he may not get enough credit for his team's success.

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

Ask Shreyas Iyer.

As Kolkata Knight Riders skipper, he hardly put a foot wrong during their 2024 IPL winning run, but the presence of Gautam Gambhir, Chandrakant Pandit and Abhishek Nayar in the dugout meant Iyer's contribution as the leader of the pack got overshadowed.

However, by captaining Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) title against Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, Iyer has proved there is more to his leadership than carrying out instructions from the dugout.

The SMAT national championship doesn't have international stars, but is a gruelling competition. By helping Mumbai lift the trophy, Iyer has again underlined his quality as a smart T20 captain, well-versed in the demands of the modern game while being a good man manager.

Bringing the best out of senior players is always the challenge.