Team India captain Shreyas Iyer stated that the 2-0 T20I series loss to Ireland was “depressing” as they were outplayed in every department and fell short in adapting to the conditions in Belfast. However, with England giving an entirely different challenge, Iyer said that they had learnt their lessons and were ready to bounce back ahead of the five-match series as well.
“It wasn’t embarrassing, but it was depressing for us, because we definitely didn’t expect Ireland to play that well,” Shreyas Iyer said on the eve of the first T20I at Chester-le-Street. “They outplayed us in every department, they had brilliant ideas about the dimensions of the ground, and we fell short in terms of analysing and planning the ground and the dimensions, and how the wicket would be played. So kudos to them, credit to them, but we learnt a lot from that series.”
Shreyas Iyer also shared that the conditions in England present an entirely different challenge and he was confident that the team were far better equipped this time around.
“This is completely a new chapter for us coming in here. A couple of us have played in England before, and we know the conditions, we know the ideas, we know the dimensions over here. So looking forward for [sic] an intense and challenging series,” he added.
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“No, those shortcomings are no longer there,” he again added. “As I mentioned earlier, a couple of us have played in England before, we know how the wickets are, usually we see it on TV as well. Belfast, we played after so many years. It’s not a reason, but I’m just saying that turning up over there and then getting acclimatised to the wicket, to the conditions, we fell a bit short in terms of reading the outfield, and getting accustomed to the conditions over there.”
Comparing the two venues, Iyer said that the setup in Chester-le-Street was far more familiar as well.
“I feel it’s completely different because the Belfast ground definitely wasn’t a stadium. The outfield… wasn’t even. And the dimensions also [were] a bit squarish. So, cutting the singles, cutting the doubles, especially when you’re fielding in the outfield, the angles… as a captain, setting the field, it felt a bit outlandish because we’re not used to it. Over here… the ground is flat, and you feel the vibe, you feel the stadium vibe, the crowd would be intense as well. We’ve played in such conditions, such situations before,” he shared.
However, Shreyas Iyer himself had a not-so-good series in Ireland, but he insisted he was unconcerned by his own form and believes the runs will come.
“Not at all,” he said when he was asked if captaincy had added to the burden on his batting. “The way I’m timing the ball in the nets, even in the previous game, I thought I was timing brilliantly, just the odd ball bounced and took an inner edge. That doesn’t justify how my batting is or how much pressure I’m taking. I definitely believe in my instincts. I know how well I play under pressure. So, I just want to keep that faith in me and go forward in the upcoming matches.”
“I certainly don’t know what goes around in the England team’s atmosphere. But the transition coming from a Test match and getting accustomed to a white ball, I think the majority of the players have been through that. It is not that it is a new thing for them. I am sure they will be completely fine with it,” Shreyas Iyer concluded.
