Shreyas Iyer was finally able to smile.
After two consecutive T20I setbacks in Ireland and England, India captain Shreyas Iyer saw his young team post an emphatic 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe. The victory in the third and final T20I in Harare came after a commanding display by India, rolling past the hosts by 35 runs to register a statement win. It was Iyer’s first series as captain of the T20I team, and he feels it will be the start of something big.
Instead of lavishing praise on the performance of the main men, Shreyas Iyer chose to shower the youth with accolades as he praised their fearless approach and energy on the park, even in the challenging circumstances of playing two games in a row.
“As we saw, they are fearless. Young bunch of players, they have good energy on the park, good intent, especially when you are playing back-to-back games,” said Iyer after the series win. “So to have that kind of energy is what I require as a captain and as a team, and they could deliver today as well in back-to-back games. So yeah, a special feeling for me to win the series over here in Zimbabwe. Clinical 3-0, so it’s going to be a special moment.”
Trusting Talent Over Experience: Shreyas Iyer
While Iyer is one of the senior members of the squad, he brushed aside the idea that he shoulders more responsibility than the young talent.
“Instead, the India skipper highlighted that the Indian Premier League has played a big role in creating a generation of players who are coming into the Indian team with vast experience,” said the report.
“I think if you see the record, I have played almost a similar number of games compared to all of them, which is 55 to 60. In terms of experience, many players have tremendous experience in the game because they also play in the IPL these days,” he added.
As per Iyer, being a leader requires creating a space where the talented players can thrive.
“So, they are special talents and getting the best out of them is beneficial for the team as well. So, every time I walk on the field, I make sure that I take care of their game and that they are comfortable and relaxed,” he remarked.
Also read: VVS Laxman Explains Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Still Has Room to Grow After Match-Winning Series
Momentum Is Only the Beginning
India’s emphatic wins with bat and ball during the recent Zimbabwe series have given the fans hope that the team might be on the verge of turning around its poor white-ball form.
But Iyer feels that the real test awaits as the team has to take on West Indies before hosting the Asian Games Qualifier.
India’s next assignment is hosting West Indies in a three-match ODI and five-match T20I series, followed by the Asian Games Qualifier in Aichi-Nagoya, where Iyer is expected to lead the team. In addition, a white-ball tour of Bangladesh and a possible T20I series against Afghanistan are also in the offing in the next few months.
“For me, it’s about keeping the same fearless attitude, and it’s more important than getting caught up in the current momentum. We have created momentum right now, and we must be consistent with our approach and attitude. It’s going to be challenging, but if we show the same amount of courage and calmness that we possess, I think it’s going to be great for Indian cricket,” he concluded.
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