Shreyas Iyer silenced many of his critics with a composed captain’s knock in the opening T20I against England, earning praise from former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel for his mature approach under pressure. After a disappointing return to T20I cricket during the Ireland series, Iyer responded in style with a match-defining half-century that showcased both his temperament and leadership.

Iyer, who replaced Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain last month, had faced scrutiny after scores of 3 and 10 against Ireland. Questions were raised over his appointment, especially since he had been away from the T20I setup for an extended period. However, the right-hander answered those doubts with a well-crafted 68 off 47 deliveries against England.

Speaking on JioStar’s Game Plan, Parthiv Patel described Iyer’s innings as a masterclass in modern T20 batting. He pointed out that India were under pressure after losing two early wickets, making Iyer’s calm and calculated approach even more valuable.

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“People who questioned Shreyas Iyer would have felt reassured after this innings. He is already a proven performer in this format. It was an extremely important knock because India had lost two early wickets, while Abhishek Sharma was attacking from the other end,” Parthiv Patel said.

Rather than looking for big shots from the outset, Iyer focused on rotating the strike, building partnerships, and finding boundaries along the ground. Patel believes the India captain showed excellent game awareness by adapting to the conditions instead of relying solely on power-hitting.

The former India wicketkeeper added that Iyer’s innings highlighted the importance of reading match situations, something the Indian team would have learned following the disappointing T20I series against Ireland.

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Although India posted a competitive 189/7 after opting to bat first, persistent rain prevented England from beginning their chase, forcing the opening T20I to end without a result. With the five-match series still level at 0-0, Iyer will be eager to build on his return to form when India take on England in the second T20I at Old Trafford, Manchester.