‘Surya gave me inputs’: Shreyas Iyer reveals Suryakumar Yadav’s advice ahead of England series

Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: Team India, led by new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, will begin the next leg of their UK tour with a five-match T20I series against England, hoping to bounce back from a disappointing tour of Ireland.India went into the two-match T20I series against Ireland as favourites, but suffered a shock 2-0 defeat. It was Iyer’s first assignment as T20I captain and he will now look to turn things around when India take on England at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Wednesday. Reflecting on the Ireland series, Iyer admitted the team didn’t get the start they wanted but believes there are plenty of lessons to be taken moving forward.“Definitely not the start we wanted, but there’s a lot to learn, coming to new conditions, most of the players are playing for the first time in England and Ireland, so it’s a learning curve for them too. And we also have to build that camaraderie where everyone starts supporting each other and trusting each other, and that will only show with the more matches we play,” Iyer told BCCI.tv.

“I want to have that fearless attitude”

With the England series underway, Iyer wants his team to play fearless cricket and put the opposition under pressure.“I just like to threaten opponents. I want to have that aggressive, fearless attitude when I step on the field. I want my troops to rally around that mindset where opponents are a little bit intimidated by our personality, our appearance on the field. And that’s what I want every single person on the team to think about because it’s like a war for me, if I want to win every game and win on the field. every single person who represents the country and wants us to challenge and opponent,” said Iyer.The 31-year-old also said that the team is starting a new journey despite India’s success in the previous T20 World Cup.“I think Gauti bhai mentioned in one of his interviews that we were world champions. This is a new paragraph that starts from the very point where I am the team leader and we are starting again from scratch,” he said.

On the advice of Rohit and Surya

Iyer also spoke about the support he received from Rohit Sharma and former T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.Iyer replaced Suryakumar as India’s T20I captain after the latter led the team to another T20 World Cup title. However, a decline in batting form and the selectors’ long-term plans resulted in a change in management.“Interacting with Rohit Sharma is like you are just talking to your brother. He is the kind of character who has also helped me in my domestic career. So it has always been easy to interact with him,” said Iyer.“And Surya (Suryakumar Yadav), again a similar character. I played a lot of domestic cricket with him and just before he came here he gave me cues about how the management will be, how the players will be in that particular situation. So yes, definitely a decent interaction and learning a lot at the same time,” he said.

Iyer’s Heartwarming Tribute on Doctors Day

Iyer also paid tribute to the doctors who helped him recover from a serious injury sustained during the 2025 tour of Australia in Sydney. The injury resulted in a fractured spleen and internal damage that required critical medical attention.On Doctor’s Day, the Indian captain thanked the medical team that helped him return to cricket.“Injury can make you realize how quickly life can change. I am deeply grateful to the doctors and medical teams who helped me get back to health, strength and the sport I love,” said Iyer.

What do you expect from Team India in the T20I series against England?

More than 3,000 users shared the opinion today

More than 5,000 users have already voted today

More than 3,000 users shared the opinion today

Share an opinion“They stood by me during one of the most challenging phases of my life. Dedicating my second birthday to the medical professionals is my tribute to the people who made my comeback possible,” he said.