‘There were a lot of positives’: Shreyas Iyer reflects on ‘tough’ England tour, calls for fearless approach in Zimbabwe | Cricket news

Indian captain Shreyas Iyer during the T20I match against England. (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India captain Shreyas Iyer believes his side’s disappointing tour of England and Ireland has laid the foundation for future success, insisting the tough phase has brought the team closer ahead of the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.After going through a winless campaign in England and Ireland, which was Iyer’s first assignment as India’s T20I captain, the visitors will now turn the page when they face Zimbabwe in the T20I opener on Thursday.Instead of dwelling on the failures, Iyer said the challenging tour offered valuable lessons about team mindset, adaptability and decision-making under pressure.“We had a difficult time in England, but there were a lot of positives from it. We learned what we need to build as a team going forward, what kind of presence of mind, awareness and adaptability we need when we step on the field,” Iyer said ahead of the series opener.

“Don’t be afraid of failure”

With India looking to bounce back immediately, Iyer urged his young squad to embrace an attacking mindset rather than worry about criticism or the fear of failure.“I don’t think they should be afraid of failure, because when you have such thoughts in your head, then you play to save yourself. When you don’t have that fear, you can get the best out of yourself,” said the skipper.“We don’t have to think much about what people are saying outside. We have to stay in the present. The more we play good cricket and play together as a unit, the better it will be for the team,” he added.The captain added that the difficult results only strengthened the bond in the dressing room.“The results did not go our way, but it brought the team closer to each other. We had a lot of discussions about how we would play as a unit going forward. It’s great exposure because you don’t get this often. This is a challenging phase and the faster you overcome it, the better you become as a team,” Iyer said.

Quick turnaround, new challenge

India have had little time to regroup after traveling directly from England, with just one practice session before the opening match in Zimbabwe.Calling the schedule demanding but exciting, Iyer backed his team to adapt quickly to the unfamiliar conditions.“It’s definitely very demanding. We came yesterday, today is training, and tomorrow is the match. But it’s fun, and if you behave well in these situations, you’ll definitely be happy with yourself,” said the new captain.The 31-year-old, touring Zimbabwe for the first time, admitted that a quick adjustment would be key.Some of us are playing here for the first time, so the faster we adapt, the better results we will achieve, he added.Iyer also warned against underestimating Zimbabwe, praising the hosts for having an experienced squad with several players who have played in the IPL.“They have an amazing squad and a good squad. A few of them have also played in the IPL, so they have a lot of experience,” he said.