Shreyas Iyer has shown his excitement to meet and interact with the athletes at the Asian Games as he leads the team for the first time. The India T20 captain expressed his excitement about the upcoming tournament in Aichi-Nagoya as India gets ready to bid for the title defence.
Shreyas excited to lead India at Asian Games; keen to meet top athletes
As he spoke to the media ahead of the India vs Afghanistan T20 series, Iyer said:
"Definitely an exciting time for me and also for the team because it is going to be my first time, and there are a couple of players who have already been in the Asian Games. So, yeah, exciting time.”
Iyer also spoke on India facing Japan, which he dubbed as ‘a historic one.’ He added:
“And sharing a relationship with the hockey players and other Olympic players who would be there, athletes who would be there along with us, definitely would be a great interaction.”
Iyer has stated that the team is currently focusing on their Afghanistan series ahead of the Asian Games, as the series offers an opportunity to test themselves. The India vs Afghanistan series begins on September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Iyer is all praise for Gautam Gambhir
Meanwhile, Iyer had earlier revealed how well aware he is of Gautam Gambhir and his winning mindset. The Indian batter spoke warmly about his head coach, highlighting their long-standing professional relationship and the clarity the former opener brings to the side.
Iyer also pointed to Gambhir’s strength in building trust and defining roles clearly within the squad. Their association stretches back several years. In 2018 at Delhi Daredevils, Gambhir, then captain, stepped aside mid-season to back Iyer as his successor. The two later worked together at Kolkata Knight Riders, where Gambhir served in a mentoring capacity while Iyer was an established leader.
That shared history, Iyer believes, gives him valuable insight into how the coach operates.
Iyer also commended Gambhir’s one-on-one player management style, noting that understanding individual personalities is essential in a high-pressure tournament environment. The pair have now reunited as Gambhir now coaches the Indian Cricket Team.
Iyer also stated that the head coach brings a lot of trust and confidence to the team. The player, who was full of praise for Gambhir, stated how clear he is in letting the players know exactly what they have to do. He also revealed that Gambhir, the former Indian player, has a great relationship with all the players to understand each of them and their individuality.
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