Mumbai, July 27: Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur has described India captain Shreyas Iyer as a “bowler’s captain”, praising the skipper for trusting his bowlers and giving them the freedom to execute their plans. Speaking to JioStar, Thakur reflected on his maiden India call-up for the Zimbabwe T20I tour and the journey that led him to the national team.
The 26-year-old revealed that he learned about his selection only after landing in Nagpur, when congratulatory messages from friends began pouring in. He said representing India was a dream come true after progressing through the ranks from Under-19 cricket to the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, IPL, India A, and finally the senior national side.
Thakur credited his strong bond with Shreyas Iyer, developed during their time together at Punjab Kings in the IPL, saying the captain understands his strengths across different phases of an innings. He added that Iyer remains calm under pressure, consults bowlers about their plans, and encourages them to back their instincts instead of imposing his own ideas.
The Vidarbha pacer also spoke about his admiration for Jasprit Bumrah, revealing his ambition to become a specialist death bowler capable of delivering in high-pressure situations. Thakur said he tries to emulate Bumrah’s adaptability across all phases of the game.
He further recalled valuable advice from Gautam Gambhir during his time with Lucknow Super Giants, saying the former India opener encouraged him to trust his natural strengths and maintain the mindset that helped him succeed in domestic cricket.
