Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir: Starting from zero again? That is the message from the new Indian T20I captain as he prepares for a five-match series against England. Shreyas Iyer, who replaced Suryakumar Yadav as skipper, endured a tough start with a 2-0 series defeat in Ireland. Despite this, Iyer remains focused on building a fearless and aggressive team identity, drawing inspiration from head coach Gautam Gambhir’s philosophy of treating this as a fresh beginning.
Iyer stated he always expected the captaincy opportunity, given his consistent performances for India and in IPL tournaments. He described leading the national side as a childhood dream fulfilled and a proud moment. Reflecting on his journey, he credited his hard work and support system. The 31-year-old emphasized his desire to instill a menacing and ruthless approach, saying, I want to win every match and that’s the mindset I want to imbibe in each and every individual.
Regarding the team’s fresh start, Iyer revealed, Gauti bhai mentioned… we are starting from zero again. This perspective comes after India’s T20 World Cup win, signaling a new chapter. The captain acknowledged the Ireland series as a learning curve, particularly for players unfamiliar with English conditions. He stressed the need to rebuild trust and camaraderie within the squad after that disappointment.
As India faces a stronger England side, Iyer hopes to secure his first series win as captain. He aims to implement a relentless brand of cricket, thriving under pressure. With key bowlers like Arshdeep Singh showing promise, the team looks to bounce back, embracing the challenge of building a winning identity from scratch under Iyer’s leadership.