India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer hailed the hunger and determination of his young squad after the Men in Blue completed a commanding 3-0 series sweep over Zimbabwe in the recently concluded three-match T20I series. Reflecting on the team’s all-round performances, Iyer said the fierce competition for places in Indian cricket continues to push every player to give their best whenever they wear the national jersey.
Speaking in a video shared by the BCCI, the skipper praised the attitude of the youngsters and said their desire to cement a place in the Indian team was evident throughout the tour. “When you step onto the field, you can see the hunger in these youngsters. They know how intense the competition is back home, so every opportunity matters. Whenever they get a chance, they want to contribute in the best possible way and help the team win matches,” Iyer said.
One of the standout performers of the series was Mayank Yadav, who marked his return to international cricket after a 21-month absence in style. The right-arm pacer finished as the highest wicket-taker of the series, claiming five wickets in three matches while maintaining an impressive economy rate of 6.55. Iyer was particularly impressed with Mayank’s willingness to learn and his ability to execute plans under pressure.
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“Mayank’s attitude stood out throughout the series. During the matches, he constantly asked what he should bowl next, and the best part was that he executed every plan perfectly. That’s extremely encouraging to see from a young fast bowler,” the captain added.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was another major contributor to India’s success. The 15-year-old continued his dream start to international cricket by scoring two half-centuries in three matches and finishing as the Player of the Series.
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According to Shreyas Iyer, Sooryavanshi’s fearless starts gave India the momentum they needed at the top of the order, allowing experienced batters like Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma to build on strong foundations. “We know exactly what Vaibhav brings to the team. The starts he provided were crucial because they set the rhythm for the innings. Then Ishan, Tilak and everyone else built on that. It’s contributions from every individual that help you win matches,” he explained.
The Zimbabwe triumph also marked a significant personal milestone for Iyer. After facing criticism following consecutive T20I series defeats against Ireland and England, the Mumbai batter responded by guiding India to his first bilateral T20I series victory as captain.
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Describing the achievement as a special moment, Shreyas Iyer said winning a series for India had always been one of his biggest dreams. “It’s a very special feeling and difficult to describe. Representing India is an honour, and winning my first series as captain is something I’ve always dreamed of. As a team, we focused on maintaining our standards instead of worrying about the results, and that approach worked perfectly for us,” Iyer concluded.
