‘It’s all about the attitude’: Shreyas Iyer hails fearless young India after first series win as captain | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer’s first series triumph as India’s T20I captain was built on a fearless brand of cricket, and the skipper believes the young side’s ability to stay positive and attack every opportunity has been the biggest takeaway from their dominant campaign against Zimbabwe.India sealed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with a commanding 90-run victory in the second T20I on Saturday, but for Iyer, the result was more than just another win — it was a reflection of the team’s aggressive mindset and belief in its young players.Batting first, India recovered from an early wobble to post a massive 219/5, powered by Ishan Kishan’s brilliant 81 and Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 60. Their bowlers then backed up the total by dismissing Zimbabwe for 129 in 17.5 overs.
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Reflecting on the performance, Iyer highlighted how the team’s fearless approach has allowed players to express themselves without worrying about past setbacks.“That’s how you’ve got to approach the game. I feel it’s all about the attitude. Don’t dwell too much on previous performances. Keep moving forward and, more importantly, stay in the present. You’ve got to maximise every opportunity you get,” Iyer said after the match.
Iyer praises Kishan, Tilak for fearless batting display
India were in early trouble at 29/2 after losing Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, but Kishan and Tilak turned the contest around with a sensational partnership.Kishan first added 66 runs with Iyer before joining forces with Tilak for a 94-run stand that powered India beyond the 200-run mark.Iyer admitted the team’s expectations changed during the innings as the two left-handers launched a stunning counterattack.“Starting with the batting, I think the way Ishan and Tilak played was outstanding. A few of the shots they played were rakanaka (beautiful), and they were really pleasing to the eye,” he said. “At the start, I felt anything between 180 and 200 would have been a par score, but we ended up getting 220, which was the icing on the cake.”The Indian captain also praised the bowling unit for maintaining discipline and executing plans perfectly.“With the ball, as usual, the bowlers came in, executed their lines and lengths precisely and bundled them out for 130-odd. I think that basically tells you the story of the game,” he added.
Injury concern ahead of final T20I
India’s preparations for the final match suffered a setback after fast bowler Prince Yadav sustained a hamstring injury during his second over.Prince pulled up while running in and left the field after taking two wickets. Iyer confirmed that the injury could lead to changes for the series finale.“Unfortunately, one of our players (Prince) picked up an injury, so there could be a couple of changes,” the captain said.
