India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer said that he shares a similar mindset with head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the T20I series against England. After India's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Ireland, Iyer stated that the team will play aggressive cricket while maintaining a united dressing room throughout the tour.
Team India will begin the five-match T20I series against England on July 1 at Chester-le-Street. The visitors will be eager to bounce back after the Ireland setback and build momentum against a strong England side, with the series serving as an important step in their preparations for future ICC tournaments.
I Want to Be Menacing to the Opponents - Shreyas Iyer
Speaking ahead of the first T20I, Shreyas Iyer said that he wants India to play fearless and aggressive cricket. The captain added that he wants every player to show confidence on the field and make opponents feel the pressure from the very start.
"I just like to be menacing to the opponents. I want to have that aggressive, fearless approach when I step onto the field. I want my troops to rally around that mindset, where the opponents are a bit intimidated by our personality, by our appearance on the field. And this is what I want each and every individual in the team to think about, because it's like a war for me when I step onto the field."
We Are Starting From Zero Again - Shreyas Iyer on Gautam Gambhir's Message
Shreyas Iyer said that Gautam Gambhir has asked the team to leave past achievements behind and focus on building a new chapter. He admitted the Ireland series was not the start India wanted but believes the young squad will improve with more matches together in overseas conditions.
"I think Gauti bhai mentioned in one of his interviews that we were world champions. This is a new paragraph which starts all together where I am the leader of the team, and we are starting from zero again. Definitely not the start that we wanted, but a lot to learn coming into new conditions."
"Majority of the players playing for the first time in England and Ireland, so it's a learning curve for them as well, and also we have to build that camaraderie where each and everyone starts supporting and trusting each other, and that will only come through the more amount of matches we've played."
I Want to Win Every Match" - Shreyas Iyer on India's Mindset
The India captain said that winning must remain the team's biggest goal. He added that every player representing the country should have the hunger to compete hard and challenge the opposition in every match.
"I want to win every match, and that's the mindset I want to imbibe in each and every individual representing the country and wanting us to challenge the opponents as well."
India suffered a disappointing 2-0 T20I series defeat to Ireland in Belfast. Ireland defended their totals in both matches, winning the first game by 34 runs and the second by just one run. Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer are under criticism after the series.
Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary later claimed that Shreyas Iyer was being unfairly blamed for the defeats. He suggested that the focus had shifted away from the team's decision-makers and that others in the setup should also be held accountable for the poor performance.
