India captain Shreyas Iyer hails ‘special moment’ after T20I series sweep in Zimbabwe
India captain Shreyas Iyer has described his first series win as captain as a “special moment” after leading the team to a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe. India secured the clean sweep with a 35-run victory in the third and final T20I at the Harare Sports Club.
Iyer credited the team’s fearless approach and the maturity of its young players for their performance. He highlighted the energy and intent shown by the players throughout the series, especially during back-to-back matches.
Captain’s Perspective on Team Performance
During the post-match presentation, Iyer expressed his satisfaction with the team’s energy. He noted that such energy is what he requires as a captain, and the players delivered consistently. “Clinical, 3-0. So it’s going to be a special moment,” Iyer stated.
When asked about his role as a senior player, Iyer mentioned that many teammates already possess significant experience, particularly from playing in the IPL. His focus, he explained, is on ensuring players are comfortable and relaxed to help them perform at their best.
Iyer also delivered a message to his team after the series, emphasizing the importance of continuously improving rather than focusing solely on results. He stressed setting a high standard from the first match and striving to go “a notch above every time we step out to the field.”
The India captain highlighted the calmness and courage displayed by the team, suggesting it would be beneficial for Indian cricket moving forward. He added that seeing players take responsibility and win games is crucial for future momentum.
Key Player Contributions
In the final T20I, India’s batting effort was spearheaded by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 81 runs off 49 balls, including eight fours and four sixes. Ishan Kishan contributed 29 runs, while Iyer himself scored 27 runs off 18 balls. Rinku Singh added 25 runs off 14 deliveries, helping India reach a total of 192/5.
Sooryavanshi was named Player of the Series for his total of 151 runs across the three-match series. Iyer praised the young player’s fearless intent, describing him as a “special talent.”
Zimbabwe’s chase struggled to gain momentum. Yash Thakur dismissed Brian Bennett with the first ball of the innings and later removed Dion Myers and Sikandar Raza during his initial spell. Mayank Yadav finished with figures of 3/29, while Ravi Bishnoi and Ashok Sharma each took one wicket. Despite Ryan Burl remaining unbeaten on 54 runs, Zimbabwe fell 35 runs short of the target, finishing at 157/7.
Iyer also achieved a personal milestone before a ball was bowled in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare, winning his eighth consecutive toss as captain in T20 Internationals. This record surpasses MS Dhoni‘s previous best of seven consecutive toss wins by an Indian captain in T20Is.
The India squad for the series included a youthful lineup with players such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, and Rinku Singh alongside the experienced captain Iyer. Zimbabwe, in turn, handed T20I debuts to Newman Nyamhuri and Ben Curran.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza noted that the Harare Sports Club pitch for the first T20I appeared different from its usual nature, expecting a high-scoring game despite some early assistance for seamers.
The series win marks a significant achievement for Iyer as captain, following what was described as a challenging period during tours of Ireland and England.
The final match saw India post 192/5 and restrict Zimbabwe to 157/7.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
