India’s recent T20I results may leave fans wanting, but captain Shreyas Iyer has a more positive outlook. Behind the losses, criticism, and rising pressure around him, the 31-year-old thinks India’s T20 team can learn several lessons and grow from this period.

As his men prepare to play Zimbabwe in the first of three T20I matches in Harare Sports Club, Shreyas Iyer made it clear that, despite a winless campaign against Ireland and England, they would use the experience to strengthen the team’s foundation and adaptability in the shorter format.

“We had a tough time in England, but there were a lot of positive things,” the India captain said on the eve of the T20I series against Zimbabwe, which starts on Saturday.

“We understand what we have to build as a team to move forward in T20 cricket, what kind of presence of mind, awareness, and adaptability we need once we get on the park.”

A Young Team Searching for Direction, Says Shreyas Iyer

The Zimbabwe tour is yet another step in the development of a young Indian team, and there are a number of players who have taken up the challenge of facing a new opponent for the first time.

Shreyas Iyer recognizes that he needs to be flexible if India are going to improve their fortune in the near future.

“Some of us are playing here for the first time, so the sooner we adapt, the more positive results we can get,” said Shreyas Iyer.

Despite the losses to Ireland and England, the captain feels that the results have not affected the team in a negative way. If anything, the results have brought the group closer together since the players are able to hold more meaningful discussions regarding the future of the team.

“The results that we got, they didn’t go the way of India, but it brought the team closer to each other. We were discussing a lot about our plans, and how we are going to execute those plans in our current form, specifically against Zimbabwe,” said Shreyas Iyer.

Most young teams tend to doubt themselves when a losing streak begins, but Iyer considers a tour filled with hardships as a necessary evil. India’s recent campaigns abroad have tested several young players, and the captain feels that the experience will benefit the team in the long run.

“We have already played three series outside of India, and it has been a great learning curve for us as a team because it’s not that common to face these conditions,” said Shreyas Iyer.

“It is a difficult period, and the quicker we get through it, the better we can perform as a unit and eventually win matches.”

The Importance of Playing Without Fear

At the heart of Iyer’s message was a simple piece of advice about not letting the fear of failure dictate one’s actions on the field.

The Indian captain feels it is important for players not to feel “fear of failure” due to the fact that when they think like that, they don’t perform to their level because they feel safe.

“I don’t think they should fear failure because when you have that in your head, then you play to save your skin.

“When you don’t have that, then you get the best out of yourself,” Shreyas Iyer said.
He also told his teammates not to be affected by what critics say, telling them that the only thing that matters is playing good cricket to get the result that they desire.

“We don’t have to think about a lot of what people are saying outside. We have to think about the present. The more we play good cricket and play as a team, the better it will be for us,”

A Chance to Reset

While it’s true that a series against Zimbabwe doesn’t hold the same appeal as a World Cup tie or a high-profile bilateral series, it is still an important assignment for this Indian team.

After their poor campaign in Ireland and England, they needed to show that the performances there were an aberration and not the norm.
For Shreyash Iyer, his team needs to start healing and moving on from the heartbreaking losses.

The young captain is now looking forward to getting the team’s recovery started in Harare.