Iyer led India to the men’s cricket gold medal in Japan, and Laxman was particularly impressed by the way the middle-order batter approached the leadership role, saying he was already showing the qualities needed to stay ahead of the opposition in the fast-paced T20 format. India edged out Pakistan by 19 runs in a high-scoring final to defend their title.
Shreyas Iyer’s meticulous preparation, sharp tactical understanding and ability to assess the opposition’s strength make him well-equipped for a successful stint as India’s captain, said VVS Laxman, who served as the team’s head coach at the Asian Games.
A classy batsman in his playing days, Laxman also highlighted Iyer’s tactical acumen and his understanding of the players at his disposal, qualities that he believes helps him get the best out of the team.
“It’s just the start of his captaincy career, but I’m sure that he’ll achieve a lot of success. He’s a player’s captain. And he’s very thorough in the way he prepares. Puts a lot of emphasis on fitness. I’m sure that he’ll have a very successful tenure as captain. “He’s a fabulous leader of players. Tactically, very, very smart, very sharp. He understands the strengths of each and every player of his team. “From the time we came to Japan, we were challenged by weather, travel, lack of good practice session and preparation. “The ultimate aim and goal for all of us, whether in China or here in Japan, was to win the gold.
Because not very often do we as cricketers experience being on a podium and receiving the gold medal,” he said.
He makes everyone very, very comfortable and leads by example,” Laxman told BCCI in an interview. And he knows how to get the best out of them,” he said. Laxman said the squad’s ability to adapt to those circumstances was one of the most pleasing aspects of their campaign. But not even once I felt that the team, all the players in the squad were not eager to get ready for the big matches,” he said.
“Whether with the bat or on the field, even before the team meetings, he sits down with the plans and the strengths and the weaknesses of the opposition.
