NEW DELHI: Team India, under a new T20I captain Shreyas Iyerwill begin the next leg of their UK tour with a five-match T20I series against England, hoping to bounce back from a disappointing tour of Ireland.India entered the two-match T20I series against Ireland as favourites, but suffered a shock 2-0 defeat. It was Iyer’s first assignment as T20I captain and he will now look to turn things around when India face England in the first match at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.Reflecting on the Ireland series, Iyer admitted the team didn’t start the way they wanted, but believes there are plenty of lessons to take forward.“Definitely not the start we wanted, but a lot to learn, coming into new conditions, most of the players are playing for the first time in England and Ireland, so it’s a learning curve for them too. And we also have to build that camaraderie where everyone starts supporting and trusting each other, and that will only come through the more matches we play,” Iyer told BCCI.tv.
‘I want to have that fearless approach’
With the England series now underway, Iyer wants his team to play fearless cricket and put the opposition under pressure.“I just like to be threatening to opponents. I want to have that aggressive, fearless approach when I step on the field. I want my troops to rally around that mindset where the opponents are a little bit intimidated by our personality, our appearance on the field. And that’s what I want every individual in the team to think about because it’s like war for me when I step on the field. I want to win every game and that’s the mindset I want to instill in every individual representing the country and I want us to challenge the opponents as well,” he said is Iyer.The 31-year-old also said that the team is embarking on a new journey despite India’s success in the previous T20 World Cup.“I think Gauti bhai mentioned in one of his interviews that we were world champions. This is a new paragraph starting entirely where I am the team leader and we are starting from scratch again,” he said.
On the advice of Rohit and Surya
Iyer also spoke about the support he received from Rohit Sharma and former T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.Iyer replaced Suryakumar as India’s T20I captain after the latter led the team to another T20 World Cup title. However, a decline in form and electoral long-term plans resulted in a change of leadership.“Interacting with Rohit Sharma, it’s like you’re just talking to your brother. He’s that kind of person who has also helped me in my domestic career. So it’s always been easy to interact with him,” Iyer said.“And Surya (Suryakumar Yadav), again, a similar character. I played a lot of domestic cricket with him and just before he came here he gave me information about how the management would be, how the players would be in this situation. “So definitely a decent interaction and a lot to learn at the same time,” he said.
Iyer’s Heartfelt Tribute on Doctors’ Day
Iyer also paid tribute to the doctors who helped him recover from the severe injury he suffered during Australia’s 2025 tour in Sydney. The injury left him with a fractured spleen and internal damage, requiring critical medical care.On Doctors’ Day, the India captain thanked the medical team that helped him return to cricket.“Injury can make you realize how quickly life can change. I am deeply grateful to the doctors and medical teams who helped me get back to health, strength and the sport I love,” said Iyer.“They were with me during one of the most challenging phases of my life. Dedicating my second birthday to health workers is my tribute to the people who made my comeback possible,” he said.
