India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer believes the team’s recent defeats have provided valuable lessons ahead of the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.
India have struggled since Iyer replaced Suryakumar Yadav as T20I captain. The Men in Blue have lost six of their last seven T20I matches. They suffered two defeats against Ireland and four against England. Now, India will aim to return to winning ways when they face Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club, with the first match scheduled for Thursday.
Iyer Wants India to Stay Positive and Play Fearless Cricket
Speaking before the opening game, Iyer said the team has learned a lot from the difficult phase.
“We had a rough patch in England, but there were a lot of positives out of that. We got to know what we have to build as a team going forward, what kind of presence of mind, awareness and adaptability we need once we step onto the field,” Iyer said.
The Indian skipper also highlighted the importance of adapting quickly to the conditions in Zimbabwe. Several players are touring the country for the first time.
“Some of us are playing here for the first time, so the quicker we adapt, the better results we will get,” the Mumbai batter said.
Iyer added that the recent setbacks have brought the squad closer together. He believes the team is improving through constant discussions and shared experiences.
“The results didn’t go our way, but that has brought the team closer to each other. We’ve been having a lot of discussions about how we’re going to play as a unit going forward, especially against Zimbabwe right now. We’ve had three series outside India, and it’s a great exposure for us as a team because you don’t get this often. This is a challenging phase, and the quicker you overcome it, the better you become as a team and the results will eventually follow,” Iyer mentioned.
He also encouraged his teammates to play without fear and ignore outside criticism.
“I don’t think they should fear failure because when you have such thoughts at the back of your mind, then you play to save yourself. When you don’t have that fear, you can get the best out of yourself. 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,” Iyer stated.
