Shreyas Iyer brand new helmet design as India vice captain ahead of 1st ODI against Afghanistan

India's white-ball journey under its new leadership group officially began with the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamsala. Ahead of the game, new vice-captain Shreyas Iyer was in the spotlight for reasons other than his batting as he was seen sporting a new, costomized helmet during intense practice and warm-up sessions.

Photos of the helmet went viral on social media, with several fans praising the unique retro look that brings up full 2000s cricket nostalgia. The stylish design stood out immediately and became one of the biggest talking points before the first match of the ODI series vs Afghanistan.

Vintage 2000s nostalgia meets modern technology — The story behind Shreyas Iyer's head-turning new helmet design

At first look, Iyer's helmet reminds fans of the early 2000s era of cricket. The design features a classic outer shape and a traditional metallic grill that resembles the helmets used by many Indian stars during that period.

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Despite the helmet's retro styling, it features modern-day advanced technology. The helmet is from the newly launched KYNX range by Virender Nagpal, the owner of leading helmet brands Yonker & C&D. These helmets are intended to fit a player’s head shape and size for better fit and protection. 

They have also been tested and certified to provide the same level of safety as helmets used by professional horse riders, which makes them one of the safest cricket helmets available now. The blend of vintage style and modern protection has turned the helmet into a hot topic in the world of cricket fans.

New Helmet, New Responsibility — Shreyas Iyer Leads From the Front as India's Vice Captain in Afghanistan ODI Series

The new helmet is being released at a crucial point in Iyer's career. Having enjoyed a brilliant IPL 2026 campaign with Punjab Kings (PBKS), smashing 498 runs at a strike rate of 168.81, has given more responsibility with the leadership in the Indian team. 

With Shubman Gill leading the ODI side, Iyer will serve as vice-captain and play a key role in India's plans for future ICC tournaments. The experienced batter also entered the series needing just 23 runs to become the fastest Indian batter to reach 3,000 ODI runs.

India head into the ODI series with confidence after crushing Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test. The victory was powered by centuries from Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, while debutant spinner Manav Suthar starred with the ball and won the Player of the Match award.

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India's ODI squad for the Afghanistan series includes captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, along with Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and Prince Yadav. The squad combines experienced players and exciting young talent as India begins a new chapter in white-ball cricket.