Shreyas Iyer, the captain of the West Zone team in the recently concluded Duleep Trophy, has attributed their loss to the challenging conditions and the batters’ struggles against the turning ball.
“The ball turned a lot, and the batters found it difficult to adjust,” Iyer said. “We had a few good partnerships, but we couldn’t capitalize on them.”
West Zone lost the final to South Zone by an innings and 20 runs, despite posting a competitive first-innings total of 327. However, South Zone’s bowlers, led by Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, exploited the turning conditions to dismiss West Zone for just 182 in their second innings.
Iyer acknowledged that his team’s batting performance was below par. “We needed to bat better in the second innings,” he said. “We lost too many wickets in quick succession, and that put us under pressure.”
The loss has raised questions about Iyer’s captaincy, with some critics suggesting that he may not be the right man to lead the team. However, Iyer remains confident in his abilities and is determined to learn from the experience.
“I’m still learning as a captain,” he said. “I’m trying to improve my decision-making and my communication with the players. I’m sure I’ll get better with time.”
Iyer’s leadership will be put to the test again in the upcoming Ranji Trophy, where he will lead Mumbai in their quest for a record-extending 42nd title. The tournament will provide Iyer with an opportunity to prove his credentials as a captain and to silence his critics.