Shreyas Iyer is still searching for his first win as India's T20I captain.
Shreyas Iyer is still searching for his first victory as India’s T20I captain in the ongoing UK tour. His stint got off to a disastrous start as the Men in Blue suffered a humiliating 0-2 series defeat to Ireland.
The performance went downhill in England, with India failing to register a win after four outings in the five-T20I series so far.
While the series opener ended in a frustrating no-result due to rain at Chester-le-Street, India were outclassed in the second and third T20Is by four wickets and 125 runs at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge, respectively.
On Thursday (July 9), the reigning T20 world champions suffered a nine-wicket thrashing in Bristol to concede an unassailable 0-3 lead to England in the series.
The consecutive series defeats have piled pressure on Shreyas, who replaced Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I skipper despite not being part of the side’s triumphant World Cup campaign earlier this year.
Speaking on JioHotstar, former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim criticized Shreyas Iyer's international leadership, contrasting it with the tactical prowess he displays in the IPL.
"I feel the time has come for Shreyas Iyer to assert himself as a captain. The tactical captaincy we have seen from him in the IPL has not yet been visible in international cricket," Karim said.
He specifically pointed to the decision during the fourth T20I to promote Shivam Dube to No. 5 ahead of vice-captain Tilak Varma.
"For example, when he was batting in the middle, Shivam Dube came in at number five. I didn't understand that decision. That is not the Shreyas Iyer we know from the IPL. Logically, if he were captaining in the IPL right now, Tilak Varma would have walked in at number five instead of Shivam Dube," he added.
Karim further emphasized that Iyer needs to improve his on-field communication and decision-making to grow into his international leadership role.
“When you are batting in the middle as a captain, the messages you send to your partner are very important. Maybe it will take time for him to grow into the role,” he remarked.
India will look to salvage some pride when they face England in the fifth and final T20I in Southampton on Saturday (July 11).