Gambhir sees more in Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy than his modest T20I record suggests

India head coach Gautam Gambhir didn’t have to think twice when asked about captain Shreyas Iyer. His response was emphatic, describing the new Indian captain’s T20I leadership as phenomenal. It was a heartening endorsement, especially considering the numbers that have been associated with Iyer’s captaincy so far.

On paper, Iyer’s record does not make impressive reading. He led India in 26 T20Is, winning 14 and losing 10. Contrast that with predecessor Suryakumar Yadav, who recorded 40 wins and just eight defeats in 52 matches, and the difference is hard to ignore.

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Still, Gambhir believes there is more to judging a captain than counting wins and losses. The circumstances under which Iyer led India, he said, deserve as much attention as the results themselves.

“Shreyas did a great job with so much inexperience in the bowling line-up,” Gambhir said after India’s fifth T20I against New Zealand.

“As a captain, you’re only as good as your bowlers or batsmen. Especially with an inexperienced offense, I think he did a phenomenal job.”

INEXPERIENCED ATTACK

There was a reason for this rating. Iyer took charge of a team that had just won the T20 World Cup and gone two years without losing a bilateral series. However, India started looking at the next World Cup, which meant giving younger players an opportunity to make their mark.

The transition brought its difficulties. India traveled across different countries, encountered unfamiliar conditions and experimented with personnel. The bowling department in particular lacked the experience of the previous combination.

This was evident against New Zealand. Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav were among the younger bowling options to feature, while India also largely stayed away from specialist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. The decision placed more responsibility on the Mariners and younger members of the offense.

Gambhir acknowledged his lack of experience during overseas assignments, particularly in England and New Zealand. But he also sees this stage as essential if India are to build a competitive side for the next World Cup.

“If you start thinking about preparing for the next World Cup, you have to give opportunities to young players and try to develop them on the road,” he said.

For Iyer, that meant leading a side still finding its feet. Managing an inexperienced group while keeping India competitive was not easy. However, Gambhir believes his captain has handled the responsibility well.

THE CHALLENGE OF NEW ZEALAND

The five-match series against New Zealand offered a glimpse of those demands. The visitors were familiar with home conditions and had plenty of T20 experience. India, meanwhile, had precious little time to prepare.

The team arrived on the 20th and only had one practice the following day. Most of the players were touring New Zealand for the first time, so they quickly adapted to the different weather conditions, pitch and pitch dimensions.

Gambhir was particularly pleased with India’s approach in the first three matches. He pointed to a chase of 220 where three youngsters helped India cross the line and a subsequent chase of 199 in just 14 overs.

“It’s called recklessness,” he said.

India ended up losing the last two matches, but Gambhir didn’t want those defeats to overshadow the progress made by his players. He believes that their ability to handle pressure and unfamiliar conditions was among the biggest advantages.

“This high-risk, high-reward approach is something we will take. It should be effective whether we play in England, Australia or India. That’s how it will be,” he said.

MORE THAN JUST RESULTS

India’s leader comes with expectations that rarely leave room for patience. Every defeat invites scrutiny and captains are often judged by results, even if the circumstances are far from simple.

Gambhir acknowledged the pressure and pointed out that people expect India to win every match. However, he also felt the need for some realism when judging a team with several young players.

“The expectations are sky high. People don’t give you that much because everyone expects you to win every game,” he said.

“But some teams also have to be realistic, especially with younger players coming in.”

The numbers will continue to invite comparisons with Suryakumar. They cannot simply be thrown away. But Gambhir offered a different way of looking at Iyer’s captaincy. He sees a leader running an inexperienced attack, supporting younger players and leading India through tough overseas assignments.

That deserves a lot of credit for the head coach, even if it doesn’t always show in the score column.

– The end