'I don’t have to change my personality...': Shreyas Iyer on his T20I captaincy appointment

Shreyas Iyer. Pic/BCCI

India's new T20 captain Shreyas Iyer has said that he loves challenges and will not look to change his personality as he prepares to shoulder the responsibility of leading the national team.

Iyer, 31, captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 before leading Punjab Kings to the 2025 IPL final.

"I've got this [India T20 team captaincy] job right now, a responsibility as a captain, it's a great challenge, but at the same time, I don't have to change my personality. I have to be the same person as I was before and not try to be someone else or be under someone's shadow," Iyer said at an event at the Bandra-Kurla Complex on Sunday.

Ex-India skipper Sourav Ganguly (left), former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson and Shreyas Iyer (right) at an event in the city on Sunday. Pic/Atul Kamble

On Saturday, Iyer replaced his Mumbai Ranji teammate Suryakumar Yadav, who led the country to their third T20 World Cup in March.

Iyer's first assignment as India captain will be a two-match T20I series against Ireland in Belfast (June 26 and 28), followed by five T20Is against England from July 1. He will also lead India at the Asian Games in Japan from September 19 to October 4.

"I obviously loved challenges growing up, especially being from Mumbai, where cricket is pretty big and competition is high. Every other kid on the street wants to represent Mumbai. My mindset was always about winning against everyone that I challenged. So, whether it's about learning or winning, that is secondary, but the more fun you have growing up, the more competitive nature you have, especially while playing cricket or any other sport. I think that takes you to another level and you want to take that sort of responsibility," added Iyer, who has represented India in 14 Tests, 76 ODIs, and 51 T20Is, scoring 811, 2977, and 1104 runs respectively.

Meanwhile, former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who was also present at the event alongside Iyer, welcomed the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee's decision to appoint the new India captain.

"Shreyas has done well. He [Iyer] has earned it [India captaincy]. I would not say that the removal of Suryakumar Yadav is unfair," said Ganguly.

102
No. of IPL matches in which Shreyas Iyer has captained a team; he has won 60 and lost 40, while two games were washed out

2024
The year Iyer led Mumbai to the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy title; they won eight of their nine games under him

Two
No. of IPL seasons in which Iyer averaged 50-plus (50.33 in 2025 and 55.33 in 2026); he had never crossed the 40-mark before

14
No. of captains who led India in T20Is before Iyer's appointment as skipper