Shreyas IyerHis tenure as India’s T20I captain began on a disappointing note as the Men in Blue suffered a 34-run defeat to Ireland in the first match of the two-match series in Belfast on Friday, June 26. Chasing 183, India failed to find any momentum with the bat and eventually were bowled out for 148, but Iyer’s tactical fielding decisions also came under scrutiny after the defeat.Former India opener Aakash Chopra questioned some of Iyer’s captaincy calls, particularly his handling of the bowling attack. While Prasidh Krishna endured a forgettable outing, conceding 57 runs from his four overs at an economy of 14.25, Iyer persevered with the Gujarat Titans pacer and allowed him to complete his full spell despite the heavy punishment he received.Chopra also highlighted another decision that raised eyebrows. Off-spinner Washington Sundar, one of India’s best bowling options, was introduced only in the 16th over. By then, Ireland had already built a strong platform and Sundar went over for just 19 runs, leaving many to wonder if he should have been brought into the attack much earlier.Speaking on his YouTube channel after the match, Chopra suggested that India’s new captain could have managed his bowling resources differently. “Prasidh Krishna played six T20Is for India. He bowled 24 overs in that. He took eight wickets. So he’s a bit of a wicket-taker, but look at the economy. He concedes 11.5 runs per over. He conceded 277 runs in 24 overs. An innings is 20 overs, and if we talk about him 277 runs in his 24 overs is too much, so that’s certainly became a cause for concern. You said you want to play Prasidh Krishna, which is fine, but there is a slight lack of awareness about the game (he said that Shreyas Iyer), Chopra said.Ironically, Prasidh arrived in Ireland with an outstanding IPL record, winning the Purple Cap in the 2025 IPL with 25 wickets before claiming another 16 wickets in 12 matches for Gujarat Titans in the 2026 season. However, those feats did not translate into success in Belfast.With India trailing 0-1 in the series, Iyer will have an instant opportunity to respond. The second T20I will not only test India’s ability to bounce back, but also give the new captain an opportunity to answer questions about his tactical approach after a challenging start to his leadership.
