IPL 2023: Three Captaincy options for KKR as Shreyas Iyer set to miss entire IPL

Shreyas Iyer is set to undergo back surgery for his recurring lower back injury, and thus is likely to miss the entirety of the IPL 2023 and WTC Final.

Iyer missed the first Test of the series due to his back injury and came back to the side from the second Test in Delhi. In the final Test match, he again damaged his back and was subsequently left out of the ODI series against Australia.

And now it is confirmed that the Kolkata Knight Riders captain will be undergoing back surgery. And as a matter of fact, his availability in the IPL this season is in jeopardy and the player is most likely set to miss the entirety of the tournament.

KKR Squad 2023: Full List of Kolkata Knight Riders Players With Price in IPL 2023

Shreyas Iyer is the KKR captain and his back injury is a serious one. Iyer is set to miss the IPL, which starts on March 31, and that will be a massive blow for the Kolkata franchise.

Shreyas Iyer was roped in by KKR in 2022 and was appointed as the captain of the two-time IPL champions from his debut season. As KKR keep an eye on Shreyas' situation, here are the three possible captain options they have in their squad-

Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan can be a decent choice for Kolkata Knight Riders as captain if Shreyas Iyer misses out. Shakib has vast experience of captaincy in international cricket and is a vocal, adept leader but the overseas limitations will be an issue if they want to hand over Shakib the leadership role.

The Bangladeshi all-rounder has ties with KKR as well as he has been a long-term player for them. With agility, skill and amazing leadership prowess on his side, Shakib can be the leader for the Knight Riders if Shreyas Iyer misses out.

Tim Southee

New Zealand bowler Tim Southee was roped in by KKR last season and he has retained his place in the squad this year as well. In Iyer's absence, the Kiwi bowler can be a captaincy option for KKR.

The 34-year-old has plethora of experience and has captained New Zealand in international cricket. With more than 700 international wickets to his name, Southee can be one of the mainstays in the KKR side and thus can take up the leadership role.

Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana is the only viable Indian captain option for KKR if Shreyas Iyer is ruled out. Although mostly a hot and cold player, Rana has the experience of captaining Delhi in the domestic formats.

The southpaw will be a risky option but KKR may not have any choice in terms of selecting a captain if Iyer is unavailable for them. It will be an added responsibility for the batter, who has endured a topsy-turvy period with KKR. It will be an opportunity for him also to reinvigorate his career and the added responsibility may play a crucial part in his revival.

Why Sunil Narine is not considered?

We haven't considered Sunil Narine as captain as we believe he is far more effective being just the most lethal weapon in the team. Although Narine captained the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20, it is only fair to judge him as a magical bowler and a swashbuckler with the bat.

Narine is a mainstay in the KKR setup as he has been since 2012. He is a fierce competitor and a leader on the pitch. But as being the designated captain of the team, it has proven to be a difficult task for the KKR legend.