India’s T20 captain Shreyas Iyer said he hopes his good working relationship with head coach Gautam Gambhir will foster clear communication and an aggressive approach in the future. The first match of the three-match T20 series between India and Afghanistan is scheduled for Sunday, September 13.
Iyer, who previously led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2024, credited the head coach’s aggressive approach and the way he handles each player as crucial in bringing clarity to the team. The pair had a rocky start.
India suffered defeats in T20 series against Ireland and England. However, the Indian team then won the T20 series against Zimbabwe 3-0, with CoE’s Head of Cricket VVS Laxman serving as interim head coach.
“I think he has a very aggressive mindset. He’s someone who always wants to win when he steps on the field. He wants every player to perform well, which is natural as a coach. That’s why he instils a lot of trust and confidence in the team, and every player knows their role and what they need to do,” Iyer said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday. “That’s why I think all of these things are very important in terms of coaching skills, and his way of handling players individually is excellent. To progress in the tournament, it’s crucial to have such a relationship with each player, because we’re all different, and you need to understand each player.”
Iyer said, “Both of us, Gautam Gambhir and I, have been in situations where we need to understand players and how they can perform for the team.” The more matches we win, the better we’ll get to know each other. I’ve worked with him before at the Kolkata Knight Riders. I know very well how his mind works and what his approach will be.
Regarding the challenge of Afghanistan, many of whose players are well acquainted with Indian conditions from their IPL appearances, Shreyas Iyer said the team shouldn’t think too far ahead. He believes India must focus on each match and take it one step at a time.
He said, “Look, we’ll take each match at a time. We don’t need to think too much about the future. We’re thinking about the first match. We know Afghanistan is a good team, and our preparation over the past few days has been good. The players are in excellent form and in a good mindset. That’s why we have to stay in the present and ensure we perform well when the time comes. Before the Asian Games, we have a great opportunity to play against a very good team. That’s why we expect a great match.” We will play to our full potential.
