New Delhi: Indian captain Shreyas Iyer He believes that his white-ball team’s disappointing tour of England and Ireland has laid the foundation for future success, stressing that this difficult phase has made the team more cohesive for the three T20Is against Zimbabwe.After enduring a winless campaign in England and Ireland which was Iyer’s first stint as India’s T20I captain, the visitors will now look to turn the page when they face Zimbabwe in the T20I opener on Thursday.Rather than focusing on setbacks, Iyer said the difficult journey provided valuable lessons in the team’s mindset, flexibility and decision-making under pressure.“We had a problem in England, but there were a lot of positives from that. We knew what we needed to do as a team going forward, what kind of mindset, awareness and flexibility we needed as soon as we got on the pitch,” Iyer said on the opening night of the series.
‘Don’t be afraid to fail’
With India looking to make an immediate comeback, Iyer urged his young team to embrace an attacking mindset rather than worry about criticism or fear of failure.“I don’t think they should be afraid of failure because when you have such thoughts in the back of your mind, then you play to save yourself. When you are not afraid, you can find the best in yourself,” said the pilot.“We don’t have to think too much about what people are saying outside. We have to stay in the present. When we play good cricket and play together as a unit, it’s good for the team,” he said.The manager added that the difficult results only strengthened the unity within the dressing room.“The results did not go our way, but this has made the team closer. We’ve been talking a lot about how we play as a unit going forward. It’s a great show because you don’t get this often. This is a difficult part, and the faster you overcome it, the better you are as a team,” Iyer said.
Fast turnaround, new challenges
India have had little time to prepare after traveling from England, with only one practice session before the opening game in Zimbabwe.Calling the schedule important but fun, Iyer helped his team adjust to the unfamiliarity.“It’s very difficult. We came yesterday, today I practice and tomorrow I play. But it’s fun, and if you do well in these situations, you’ll be happy with yourself,” said the new captain.The 31-year-old, who visited Zimbabwe for the first time, admitted that a quick turnaround would be necessary.“Some of us are playing here for the first time, so if we adapt quickly, we will get good results,” he said.Iyer also cautioned against underestimating Zimbabwe, praising his teammates for having an experienced team with several players who have played against them in the IPL.“They have an amazing team and a good list. Some of them have also played in the IPL, so they have a lot of experience,” he said.
