If Bollywood baddie Langda Tyagi were a cricket follower, he might echo his philosophy towards Shreyas Iyer—just a thread separates foolishness from the notorious C word. Tug at that thread, and distinguishing between confidence and recklessness in cricket becomes challenging. This aptly describes Iyer’s career.
Iyer stands as one of Indian cricket’s bahubalis, stepping into the footsteps of Virat Kohli’s character in Omkara. He exudes the same flair, tenacity, and skill. His performances in crucial matches resonate with Kohli’s relentless spirit to fight for India and dominate the competition.
A Low-Key ICC Champion
Omkara draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s Othello. Like many of the Bard’s tragic tales, it highlights the protagonist’s fatal flaw, leading to self-destruction. In Iyer’s case, as Tom Moody pointed out following the loss to RCB, this flaw is his ego.
At Mullanpur, where his average is 5.4, Iyer recklessly charged at Josh Hazlewood, who has dismissed him four times, with Iyer averaging just 2.8 against him. With his team at a precarious 27/2, playing cautiously would have been wiser. However, Iyer crossed the line from confidence to foolishness, resulting in a setback for Punjab Kings.
Similar ego-driven mistakes have plagued India in key matches. For instance, during the 2025 Champions Trophy final, Iyer, at 48 off 62, ventured aggressively against a spinning Mitchell Santner delivery, falling short when a conservative approach was necessary. Although Hardik Pandya’s efforts saved India, Iyer’s impulsiveness could have been disastrous.
Inconsistent Opportunities
Despite impressive achievements—like scoring 530 runs in 11 innings with an average of 66.25 and becoming the first middle-order batsman to surpass 500 runs in a World Cup—his contributions have often been overshadowed. Iyer’s efforts in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, scoring 243 runs at an average of 48.60, still didn’t secure him the recognition he deserved, as attention shifted to Kohli’s audacity, Rohit Sharma’s boldness, and Pandya’s brilliance.
As a successful IPL captain, Iyer has led three franchises to playoffs. His batting mirrors Rohit Sharma’s selflessness and embodies the spirit of resilience, much like Jasprit Bumrah. Yet, he continues to be pigeonholed as an ODI specialist, receiving limited chances in Tests and T20s.
The Luck Factor
In Omkara, Dolly Mishra (Kareena Kapoor) quips, “even when the moon’s half, it still is the moon.” Iyer, however, seems akin to Polanski’s Bitter Moon—frustrated by the need to prove himself repeatedly.
His journey mirrors that of Langda Tyagi—Saif Ali Khan’s character faced many setbacks and injuries affecting his ambitions. In 2020, Iyer led Delhi Capitals to their inaugural IPL final but was sidelined due to a shoulder injury in 2021, which allowed Rishabh Pant to take over as captain. After an injury-ridden 2022 season with Kolkata Knight Riders, he returned to lead them to victory in 2024, only to be released before the 2025 auction amidst reported management discord.
Aside from injury issues, Iyer’s sporadic appearances in the BCCI’s central contract due to his differing participation in domestic cricket raise questions. His controversies in the Ranji Trophy, including team conflicts and public comments, further illuminate his tumultuous tenure.
The Swag Factor
Images often convey powerful stories. At the Champions Trophy award show, Iyer’s independent stride on stage, refusing assistance from Roger Binny while donning the winner’s jacket, exuded a strong sense of pride, possibly in reaction to the BCCI contract issue.
Iyer’s undeniable swagger, both on and off the field, may also ruffle feathers among opponents, teammates, and management alike. To effectively channel this, he must be cautious not to transform his bravado into career chaos—he must heed Langda’s warning.
Written by Sandipan Sharma, who enjoys exploring the connections between cricket, cinema, music, and politics.
