Shreyas Iyer’s sister, Shresta Iyer, took to social media to congratulate the batter after he was appointed captain of India’s T20I team, sharing a lengthy message reflecting on his journey through setbacks, injuries and eventual success.
Posting on Instagram, Shresta described the appointment as a landmark moment in Iyer’s career and highlighted the challenges he had overcome to reach one of the highest positions in Indian cricket.
“Where do I even begin?” she wrote. “What do I say about your journey… from being a boy who simply loved cricket to becoming the Captain of Team India?”
The post quickly gained attention among fans, with Shresta speaking about the sacrifices and struggles that she believes are often overlooked amid a player’s success on the field.
“People see the success today, but very few know what it took to get here. Very few know the sacrifices, the struggles, the disappointments, and the battles you fought quietly within yourself,” she said.
Shresta also referenced the injury setbacks that interrupted Iyer’s progress at various stages of his career. The Mumbai batter has endured multiple injury layoffs in recent years but has consistently worked his way back into contention for places across India’s white-ball formats.
Recalling those periods, she wrote: “Even after three major injuries, when we worried and wanted to cry, you would simply smile and say, ‘Yaar, main theek hoon (Mate, I’m fine). Main ekdum mast hoon (I’m doing great). Main fit hoon (I’m fit and ready).'”
The tribute comes after a career that has seen Iyer navigate several highs and lows at the international level. Once a regular member of India’s Test side, the right-hander eventually lost his place in the red-ball setup and also found himself out of contention in the T20I format. Questions surrounding his ability against short-pitched bowling frequently became a talking point, forcing him to rebuild his case for national selection.
However, Iyer continued to impress in domestic and franchise cricket, establishing himself as one of the country’s most accomplished leaders. He captained Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL title in 2024, having previously led Delhi Capitals (DC) to the final in 2020 and Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the summit clash in 2025.
His performances with the bat further strengthened his credentials. Iyer amassed 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07 during IPL 2025 before backing it up with 498 runs at a strike rate of 168.81 in IPL 2026, underlining his value in the shortest format.
Shresta added that her brother had earned the captaincy through perseverance and self-belief.
“You are standing here today not because someone handed this to you, but because you earned every bit of it. Through hard work, determination, and an unshakable belief in yourself.”
Among the most widely shared lines from the post was her remark that “not everyone could have survived your journey”, a reference to the challenges Iyer overcame on his way to the captaincy.
The Instagram post concluded with a message of optimism for the future.
“You did it, Shreyas. And somehow, I know this is only the beginning. The best is yet to come.”
Iyer will now begin a new chapter in his career as India’s T20I captain, with selectors placing their faith in a player whose leadership record and recent performances have made him one of the standout figures in Indian white-ball cricket.
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