Four years ago, I got into a fiery debate with my best friend—arguing, almost shouting, that Shreyas Iyer was the best candidate to lead India in the future. Oh boy, Iyer hasn’t let me down.

"Born to lead." "Natural leader." We throw these phrases around all the time when talking about captains. But what separates the good from the great?

To break it down, let’s look at two rising leaders—Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant—two players, two styles, two completely different approaches to leadership. Why is Iyer successful and Pant’s not?

At the heart of this debate lies a key contrast: Shreyas Iyer is a strategic captain; Rishabh Pant is an emotional leader.

Let me explain.

Iyer makes decisions based on logic and preparation. His game plan is built before he even steps onto the field, allowing him to focus on execution rather than improvisation. He isn’t a captain who thrives on control—he empowers his players, giving them the autonomy to take ownership of their roles rather than micromanaging every move.

Ricky Ponting, a cricketing giant, is the head coach of Punjab Kings. Yet, it’s Iyer who dictates terms on the field. That’s a testament to his leadership.

Pant leads with instinct. He backs himself in high-pressure situations and trusts his gut when making decisions. Instead of following a rigid pre-match strategy, he adjusts in the moment, going with what feels right—even if it isn’t necessarily the best choice.

Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with leading by intuition. Some of the most successful leaders in history have relied on it. But here’s the difference: great intuitive leaders don’t rely on guesswork.

As Seth Godin puts it:
"Intuition isn’t guessing. It’s sophisticated pattern matching, honed over time."

Intuition, when effective, is the result of conscious preparation behind the scenes. It’s not just about feeling—it’s about recognizing patterns at a subconscious level, built through deliberate learning and practice.

There’s an additional layer to it. Selecting correct information and filtering out the noise. In the age of information overload less is truly more as long as it’s relevant.

If there’s one leader who mastered this balance, it’s MS Dhoni.

Dhoni wasn’t just an instinctive leader—he was a calculated one. His decisions often felt intuitive, but in reality, they were the product of deep preparation. He spent years feeding his brain with the right information, understanding game patterns, and refining his decision-making process. When he pulled off an unconventional move, it wasn’t blind luck—it was informed instinct.

Be it Placing straight’sh mid-off against Pollard in the 2010 ipl final or deploying Ashwin to bowl final over in the 2013 Champions Trophy final.

Shreyas Iyer has all the assets to lead India successfully in the future. The question is wether Bcci will make the right choice or the popular one.

The Bigger Picture: How Great Leaders Think

This idea extends far beyond cricket. In every field, from business to politics to sports, leaders are constantly influenced by external factors—framing, biases, anchor points etc. These forces shape our decisions, often without us realizing it.

The best leaders don’t ignore these influences. They acknowledge them, prepare in advance, and make decisions rooted in accuracy, not certainty—because certainty is an illusion.

This is the real difference between good and great leaders. Good leaders react to situations; great leaders anticipate them. They don’t just trust their gut—they train it.

The question isn’t whether you should lead with strategy or emotion. It’s whether you recognise the forces at play and prepare yourself to make the best decision when it matters most. The best leaders constantly ask themselves:

• What was the source of my intuition?

• How can I improve my decision-making?

• Am I making choices based on knowledge or impulse?

Meme of the week

It took me 3 cups of coffee to write today’s newsletter feel free to share it with others.

Cheers