Shreyas Iyer is all set to usher in a new era for the Indian T20I team after being entrusted with the captaincy in the upcoming series against Ireland. The appointment marks a significant turnaround for the middle-order batsman, who missed out on India’s T20 World Cup squad but is now back in the national set-up with added responsibility after a successful IPL lead in recent seasons.The selector’s decision reflects growing confidence in Iyer’s leadership abilities, while the role also offers him a chance to cement his place in India’s T20I plans after being overlooked in the previous two T20 World Cups.Ahead of India’s first training session under the new leadership group, head coach Gautam Gambhir team and congratulated Iyer on taking over the team. Gambhir described the role as a special honor and expressed his belief that the new captain will set the right example on and off the field.“I want to congratulate Shreyas on being named the captain of India. It is a great honor to lead your country and I am sure you will do a fantastic job, not only on the field but also off the field,” Gambhir said in a video released by the BCCI.Addressing the players for the first time as India’s T20I captain, Iyer described the culture he hopes to establish within the dressing room. He emphasized the importance of togetherness, mutual support and creating an environment where every player feels valued while enjoying the game.“Let’s try to build a solid culture going forward. My first chance to captain the Indian team and definitely an honor and a privilege as Gauti bhai mentioned. It’s a great honor to lead the country as well. Going forward, I want to create a culture where we all protect each other, support each other in thick and thin, and more importantly, when we’re here, we have as much fun as possible,” Iyer said.The newly appointed captain also encouraged his teammates to play with confidence and a fearless approach. Referring to the team as a family, Iyer urged everyone to cheer each other on, celebrate shared success and approach every match with the belief that India can win.“This is a great opportunity and this is a family. Let’s play like lions and approach every game like we’re going to win it and play our best. Let’s have an atmosphere where we lift each other up and enjoy each other’s success,” he said.The Ireland series will officially mark the start of Iyer’s tenure as India’s T20I captain, and the team hopes to begin a new chapter under his leadership.
