Shreyas Iyer back as Kolkata captain for Ind T20 League 2024

Shreyas Iyer is set to return at the helm of Kolkata for IND T20 League 2024 after missing the last season with a back injury. Nitish Rana, Kolkata’s stand-in skipper for 2023 is their vice captain in 2024. 

Iyer was roped in by Kolkata for a whopping INR 12 crore (approx USD 1.5 million) ahead of the 2022 season of the Ind T20 League and led the franchise to six wins, eight losses and a seventh place finish. An unfortunate back injury in April 2023 ruled him out of the T20 competition and the World Test Championship final that summer. Under Rana’s reign, Kolkata finished seventh again with six wins and eight losses in 2023. 

I believe the last season presented us with several challenges, including my absence due to injury," Iyer said in a statement. "Nitish did a great job not only filling in for me but also with his commendable leadership. I am delighted that Kolkata has named him vice captain. No doubt it will strengthen the leadership group"

A whole lot has changed at Kolkata since Iyer was their skipper. Having led the side with Brendon McCullum as their coach in the past, the middle order batter will now be working with new boss Chandrakant Pandit and new mentor Gautam Gambhir. It was Gambhir who led Kolkata to two IND T20 League titles- in 2012 and 2014. 

Iyer has worked with Pandit in the Mumbai state set-up during his formative years and briefly alongside Gambhir in the course of his stint at Delhi in the IND T20 League.  

Kolkata had let go of 12 players including Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur ahead of the IND T20 League auction on December 19. The remaining purse amount is INR 32.7 crore. 

 "It was indeed unfortunate that Shreyas missed IND T20 League 2023 due to injury. We are delighted that he's back and at the helm as captain," KKR CEO Venky Mysore said. :The way he has worked hard to recover from his injury and the form he has displayed is a testament to his character.

"We are also grateful that Nitish had agreed to step into Shreyas's shoes last season and did a great job. There's no doubt Nitish as vice-captain will support Shreyas in every possible way for the benefit of Kolkata”