India's T20I captain Shreyas Iyer's leadership has been under scrutiny after a disappointing tour of the UK. Iyer's appointment seemed logical given his impressive IPL record, but the team's performance has raised questions about his ability to lead in international cricket. The article explores the key differences between franchise and international cricket, highlighting the challenges Iyer faces in creating balance and clarity from overlapping resources. It emphasizes the importance of establishing a hierarchy and defining roles, rather than merely distributing opportunities. The author argues that Iyer's responsibility lies in creating a functioning team from an imperfect collection of available players, and that this will require firmer calls, fewer overlapping experiments, and greater clarity about India's expectations. The article concludes by suggesting that Iyer may need to abandon some of his instincts that served him well in the IPL, and that the captain's question can no longer be limited to which player to use, but must become what does India need this player to become.
