India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy despite his modest T20I record. Iyer won 14 of 26 matches, but Gambhir said, "Shreyas has done a fabulous job with so much of inexperience in the bowling line-up." The team started testing younger players to build for the next World Cup.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir didn't have to think twice when asked about Shreyas Iyer's captaincy. His response was emphatic, describing the leadership of India's new T20I skipper as phenomenal. It was a glowing endorsement, particularly considering the numbers attached to Iyer's captaincy so far.
On paper, Iyer's record doesn't make for impressive reading. He has led India in 26 T20Is, winning 14 and losing 10. Compare that with predecessor Suryakumar Yadav, who recorded 40 victories and just eight defeats in 52 matches, and the difference is hard to ignore.
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Yet Gambhir believes there is more to judging a captain than counting victories and defeats. For him, the circumstances in which Iyer has led India deserve just as much attention as the results themselves.
"Shreyas has done a fabulous job with so much of 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 how your bowlers or your batters perform. Especially with an inexperienced attack, I think he's done a phenomenal job."
AN INEXPERIENCED ATTACK
There was a reason behind that assessment. 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 had begun looking towards the next World Cup, and that meant giving younger players opportunities to establish themselves.
The transition has brought its share of difficulties. India have travelled across different countries, encountered unfamiliar conditions and experimented with personnel. The bowling department, in particular, has lacked the experience of the previous combination.
That was evident against New Zealand. Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav were among the younger bowling options who featured, while India also largely stayed away from specialist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. The decisions placed greater responsibility on the seamers and younger members of the attack.
Gambhir acknowledged the lack of experience during overseas assignments, particularly in England and New Zealand. But he also sees that phase as necessary if India are to build a competitive side for the next World Cup.
"If you start thinking about building for the next World Cup, you've got to give young players the opportunity and try and develop them while being on the road," he said.
For Iyer, that has meant leading a side still finding its feet. Managing an inexperienced group while keeping India competitive hasn't been straightforward. Gambhir, however, believes his captain has handled the responsibility well.
THE NEW ZEALAND CHALLENGE
The five-match series against New Zealand offered a glimpse of those demands. The visitors were familiar with their home conditions and had plenty of T20 experience. India, meanwhile, had precious little time to prepare.
The squad arrived on the 20th and had just one practice session the following day. Most players were touring New Zealand for the first time, leaving them to adjust quickly to different weather conditions, pitches and ground dimensions.
Gambhir was particularly pleased with India's approach in the first three matches. He pointed to the chase of 220, when three young players helped India cross the line, and the subsequent pursuit of 199 in just 14 overs.
"That is what is called ruthlessness," he said.
India eventually lost the final two matches, but Gambhir didn't want those defeats to overshadow the progress made by his players. He believes their ability to handle pressure and unfamiliar conditions was among the biggest takeaways.
"That high-risk, high-reward approach is something we will accept. It should be effective whether we're playing in England, Australia or India. That is how it's going to be," he said.
MORE THAN JUST RESULTS
Leading India comes with expectations that rarely leave room for patience. Every defeat invites scrutiny, and captains are often judged by results even when circumstances are far from straightforward.
Gambhir acknowledged that pressure, pointing out that people expect India to win every game. However, he also felt some realism was necessary when assessing a team with several young players.
"The expectations are sky-high. People don't give you that inch because everyone expects you to win each and every game," he said.
"But some teams have to be realistic as well, especially with younger players coming in."
The numbers will continue to invite comparisons with Suryakumar. They cannot simply be brushed aside. But Gambhir has offered another way of looking at Iyer's captaincy. He sees a leader managing an inexperienced attack, backing younger players and taking India through demanding overseas assignments.
For the head coach, that deserves considerable credit, even if the results column doesn't always show it.