IPL 2022: Shreyas Iyer is a born leader, Pat Cummins will be a good deputy, says KKR mentor David Hussey

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The Kolkata Knight Riders mentor praised the appointment of Shreyas Iyer as their captain for the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) and said the India batter appears to be a “true leader” who has excellent clarity on what he is dealing with team must achieve.

Kolkata Knight Riders named Iyer as their captain after unleashing both Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan ahead of the Mega Auction. KKR donated the money to secure the services of Iyer who fetched Rs 12.25 crore in the mega auction.

IPL 2022: full coverage

Iyer did not lead Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 despite leading them to their first final in 2020. The star India batter moved away from the Capitals and found his new home at KKR. He was named captain by KKR team management ahead of pacer Pat Cummins, who leads the Australian Test squad.

“Shryas is a born leader, just the way he walks around earns him respect. Knowing Pat (Cummins) really well he would be a good deputy and would also lead from the front,” Hussey told reporters on Wednesday.

“But as Shreyas has captained for Delhi in the past, he has a very good cricket brain and a good idea of ​​how to play the game and I think he will express himself really well. I think it’s a smart move by Brendon McCullum and KKR management.

“He’s in a rare form at the moment. I don’t know him, I’m just getting to know him, but he comes across as a true leader and a person who really knows his game very well.”

“RAHANE WILL DOMINATE”

KKR secured the services of Ajinkya Rahane at the mega auction. The former India vice-captain is going through a lean period in Test cricket, the only format he plays for the senior team. Rahane was deposed as vice-captain and eventually dropped for the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka.

However, Hussey believes Rahane will be at his best and his past experience as manager of the Rajasthan Royals will help Iyer in the new season.

“He has been a first class player for over a decade, he has dominated the Rajasthan Royals and I believe he has at least 5-10 years of international cricket left in him.

“He might not be getting the runs he wants lately but the way he’s training he’ll dominate in the IPL and he’s also a leader in the group.”

KKR LACK TOP STARS

KKR was dealt a blow after T20 specialist Alex Hales pulled out of the tournament due to bubble fatigue.

Adding to KKR’s concerns, the Australian duo of Cummins and Aaron Finch, who has been signed to replace Hales, are likely to miss the team’s first few games as they are on tour in Pakistan.

“Not having the best players available is a problem, but international cricket is paramount. They’ll miss the first five games but they’ll hit the ground running, match-fit. Both are top-class players. Hopefully they can do that perform according to the schedule,” said Hussey.

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