Shreyas Iyer backed amid mounting scrutiny after England T20I series debacle
ENG vs IND: India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has backed Shreyas Iyer despite the team's poor run in T20Is following series defeats to Ireland and England, urging critics to show patience with the new captain as India navigate a difficult phase.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has thrown his weight behind Shreyas Iyer following the team’s disappointing T20I series defeat in England, urging critics to be patient with the new captain as the side navigates a difficult period.
India slumped to a 3-0 deficit in the five-match series after England sealed their maiden bilateral T20I series win over the visitors with a crushing nine-wicket victory in Bristol on Thursday.
Harry Brook and Phil Salt stitched together an unbeaten 146-run stand to chase down the 159-run target with 37 balls to spare. The defeat also marked India’s fifth loss in six T20Is under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy.
The series loss came on the back of a shock 2-0 defeat in Ireland, piling pressure on Iyer, who replaced Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain despite not being part of the side’s triumphant World Cup campaign. However, Ten Doeschate insisted that the management had taken a long-term view while making the leadership change.
“When you're managing or coaching a team like India, you have to plan ahead. Surya was a fantastic leader, but when you weigh up where he is age-wise and look two years ahead, you have to make some really tough calls,” Ten Doeschate said after the fourth T20I.
“There are going to be a million opinions about it and, after losing two games against Ireland and falling 3-0 behind in England, I understand that the optics don't look great. But it's important to look at things holistically.”
‘SHREYAS IYER WILL GET HIS REWARDS’
The former Netherlands all-rounder pointed to the absence of key players and the changes within the squad as factors behind India’s struggles overseas.
“We've made a few changes to the squad. Hardik (Pandya) and Jasprit (Bumrah) make a big difference to the team, so we've got a different squad here with slightly different weapons. We also need to give Shreyas a bit of time to grow into the role and allow the players to adapt to his captaincy style,” Ten Doeschate said.
India’s batting frailties were exposed throughout the tour. After being whitewashed in Ireland, the problems persisted in England as the visitors struggled against pace and movement. The slump came in Nottingham, where India were bowled out for 76 in just 11.5 overs, suffering their heaviest defeat in T20Is.
Despite the team’s poor run, Iyer has been one of India’s brighter performers. In Bristol, the captain scored an unbeaten 80 off 49 balls, accounting for more than half of India’s total after the rest of the batting line-up faltered. It was a lone hand in a match that England eventually won with ease.
Ten Doeschate praised Iyer’s attitude and commitment, praising him for the manner in which he has embraced the responsibility of leading the national side.
“I think he has started really well, leading from the front with the bat. For someone who wasn't part of that successful team to come in and score runs in difficult situations, while still speaking up, taking accountability and working tirelessly to improve, I've been really impressed by how he's gone about things.
“I'm sure he'll get his rewards as his tenure as captain progresses,” he added.
India will look to salvage some pride under Shreyas Iyer's leadership when they take on England in the fifth and final T20I at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Saturday, July 11.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has thrown his weight behind Shreyas Iyer following the team’s disappointing T20I series defeat in England, urging critics to be patient with the new captain as the side navigates a difficult period.
India slumped to a 3-0 deficit in the five-match series after England sealed their maiden bilateral T20I series win over the visitors with a crushing nine-wicket victory in Bristol on Thursday.
Harry Brook and Phil Salt stitched together an unbeaten 146-run stand to chase down the 159-run target with 37 balls to spare. The defeat also marked India’s fifth loss in six T20Is under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy.
The series loss came on the back of a shock 2-0 defeat in Ireland, piling pressure on Iyer, who replaced Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain despite not being part of the side’s triumphant World Cup campaign. However, Ten Doeschate insisted that the management had taken a long-term view while making the leadership change.
“When you're managing or coaching a team like India, you have to plan ahead. Surya was a fantastic leader, but when you weigh up where he is age-wise and look two years ahead, you have to make some really tough calls,” Ten Doeschate said after the fourth T20I.
“There are going to be a million opinions about it and, after losing two games against Ireland and falling 3-0 behind in England, I understand that the optics don't look great. But it's important to look at things holistically.”
‘SHREYAS IYER WILL GET HIS REWARDS’
The former Netherlands all-rounder pointed to the absence of key players and the changes within the squad as factors behind India’s struggles overseas.
“We've made a few changes to the squad. Hardik (Pandya) and Jasprit (Bumrah) make a big difference to the team, so we've got a different squad here with slightly different weapons. We also need to give Shreyas a bit of time to grow into the role and allow the players to adapt to his captaincy style,” Ten Doeschate said.
India’s batting frailties were exposed throughout the tour. After being whitewashed in Ireland, the problems persisted in England as the visitors struggled against pace and movement. The slump came in Nottingham, where India were bowled out for 76 in just 11.5 overs, suffering their heaviest defeat in T20Is.
Despite the team’s poor run, Iyer has been one of India’s brighter performers. In Bristol, the captain scored an unbeaten 80 off 49 balls, accounting for more than half of India’s total after the rest of the batting line-up faltered. It was a lone hand in a match that England eventually won with ease.
Ten Doeschate praised Iyer’s attitude and commitment, praising him for the manner in which he has embraced the responsibility of leading the national side.
“I think he has started really well, leading from the front with the bat. For someone who wasn't part of that successful team to come in and score runs in difficult situations, while still speaking up, taking accountability and working tirelessly to improve, I've been really impressed by how he's gone about things.
“I'm sure he'll get his rewards as his tenure as captain progresses,” he added.
India will look to salvage some pride under Shreyas Iyer's leadership when they take on England in the fifth and final T20I at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Saturday, July 11.
