Former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra strongly endorsed Shreyas Iyer's T20I captaincy, highlighting his unique commitment to creating a stress-free environment that empowers young talent.
Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Chopra explained that Iyer’s reliance on the power of manifestation prevents him from voicing negativity, ensuring that pressure from the management does not stifle the players' on-field freedom.
Shreyas took over as India's full-time T20I captain in June 2026, replacing Suryakumar Yadav. While his early fixtures resulted in series losses against Ireland and England, Iyer recently secured his first series victory as skipper against Zimbabwe.
Despite a rough start (3 wins, 6 defeats and 1 no-result) to his captaincy stint, Chopra backed Iyer to successfully pilot the Indian team through its new T20I cycle.
"One thing about Shreyas Iyer's character is that you will never hear him saying negative things. He believes in the power of manifesting. His belief is that whatever comes out of your mouth can become reality. Because of this mindset, you will never see him creating a negative environment, nor will you hear him speaking negatively," Chopra said.
Chopra argued that international cricket naturally carries immense pressure. He praised Iyer for not compounding that stress by scolding players or creating an atmosphere of fear, allowing young talent to perform at maximum ease.
"If we all ask ourselves when we perform at our best, the answer is: we perform best when we are at ease. Of course, there is already pressure in life. Pressure is a natural part of life. But when the captain starts adding more pressure, the coach starts adding more pressure, and people around you create an atmosphere where you begin to feel unnecessary pressure, that is not helpful. A good captain is someone who understands this, and Shreyas Iyer is that kind of captain. He says, 'Be the best that you can be.' We will not focus on negativity; we will stay positive. Manifesting does not make everything happen every single time, that is also true. But if you ask any young player, they will say that the best captain is the one who does not constantly scold or put pressure on them," he added.
Shreyas Iyer’s next major assignment as India's T20I captain is leading the national team at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The continental event is scheduled to run from September 24 to October 1.
