Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav (BCCI photo)

New Delhi: Team India under new T20I captain Shreyas IyerLooking to bounce back from the disappointing tour of Ireland, they will begin the next leg of their United Kingdom tour with a five-match T20I series against England.India had entered the two-match T20 series against Ireland as favorites but suffered a shocking 2-0 defeat. This was Iyer’s first assignment as T20I captain, and now he will look to turn things around when India take on England in the opening match at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.Reflecting on the Ireland series, Iyer admitted that the team did not get the start they wanted, but believes there are a lot of lessons to take forward.“Definitely not the start we wanted, but there is a lot to learn coming into new conditions, most of the players are playing in England and Ireland for the first time, so it is a learning opportunity for them as well. Also we have to build that camaraderie where everyone starts supporting and trusting each other and that will only be possible if we play more and more matches,” Iyer said on BCCI.TV.

‘He wants to have a fearless approach’

Currently the England series is going on, in such a situation Iyer wants his team to play fearless cricket and keep the opposition team under pressure.“I just love to be a threat to the opponents. I want to have an aggressive, fearless approach when I step out on the field. I want my troops to rally around that mentality where the opponents are a little bit intimidated by our personality, by our presence on the field. And I want every single person on the team to think about that because when I step on the field it’s like a war for me. I want to win every match and that’s the mentality I bring to every person who represents the country. I want to bring in. And want us to challenge the opponents also,” Iyer said.The 31-year-old also said that despite India’s success in the last T20 World Cup, the team is starting a new journey.He said, “I think Gauti bhai had mentioned in one of his interviews that we were world champions. This is a new paragraph that starts completely where I am the leader of the team and we are starting from zero again.”

On the advice of Rohit and Surya

Iyer also told about the support he received Rohit Sharma and former T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.Iyer was replaced as India’s T20I captain after Suryakumar led the team to another T20 World Cup title. However, a decline in batting form and the long-term plans of the selectors resulted in a change in leadership.“Conversing with Rohit Sharma, it feels like you are conversing with your brother. He is someone who has helped me in my domestic career as well. So it has always been easy to interact with him,” Iyer said.“And Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) has the same character again. I have played a lot of domestic cricket with him and just before coming here he gave me an insight into how the management will be, how the players will be in this certain situation.” So yes, definitely good conversations and a lot to learn at the same time,” he said.

Iyer’s heartfelt tribute on Doctor’s Day

Iyer also paid tribute to the doctors who helped him recover from the serious injury he suffered during the 2025 Australia tour in Sydney. The injury ruptured his spleen and caused internal damage, which required serious medical care.On Doctors Day, the India captain thanked the medical team that helped him make a comeback to cricket.Iyer said, “An injury can make you realize how quickly life can change. I am extremely grateful to the doctors and medical teams who helped me regain health, strength and return to the sport I love.”He said, “They stood by me during one of the most challenging phases of my life. Dedicating my second birthday to health professionals is my tribute to those who made my comeback possible.”