T20I team in transition: Shreyas Iyer makes bizarre excuse after T20I loss in Bristol

India captain Shreyas Iyer provided a bizarre explanation for India’s series loss against England after the defending world champions slumped to another disappointing defeat on Thursday. India made an abject surrender in back-to-back T20I series against Ireland and England, losing five of their six matches under Iyer’s leadership.

Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony after England sealed an unassailable 3-1 lead in Bristol, Iyer insisted that the current Indian side was in a “transition phase” and said mistakes were to be expected as several youngsters continue to adapt to overseas conditions.

“See, this is the transition phase and we will be making lot of mistakes. You see a lot of youngsters playing here in these conditions for the first time. So mistakes will definitely make them realize how important it is to adapt and have that awareness when you come in the overseas conditions.”

IND vs ENG Highlights, 4th T20I

The explanation is likely to divide opinion given that India are the defending T20 World Cup champions and have retained the core of the side that lifted the trophy. While the team has introduced youngsters such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prince Yadav, several experienced players, continue to form the backbone of the XI.

Iyer, however, argued that the players would emerge stronger if they learnt from their mistakes quickly.

“Certainly. It’s important that you learn quickly from your mistakes so that the team also benefits eventually out of it. And I’m sure that there are quick learners in the team. I’m sure they will assess themselves and get back stronger in the next game.”

SHREYAS LONE BRIGHT SPOT FROM BRISTOL

The India captain was the lone bright spot with the bat in Bristol, finishing unbeaten on 80 while the rest of the batting line-up struggled against England’s pace attack. However, Iyer admitted that his innings counted for little in a losing cause.

“Definitely happy with my performance, but see, if it’s not on the winning cause, it just goes to the side. So disappointed on that aspect because whenever I play, I want to perform and see to it that my team wins. But unfortunately, today wasn’t that day. Definitely look forward in the next game.”

India posted just 158 after another underwhelming batting display before Harry Brook and Phil Salt stitched together an unbeaten 146-run stand to chase down the target in only 13.5 overs.

Reflecting on the defeat, Iyer conceded that India were well short of a competitive total.

“Again, it was a disappointing one. Definitely, 158 wasn’t the perfect total on the board. And eventually we saw how quickly they chased down.”

The skipper also felt India failed to execute their bowling plans after making an encouraging start with the early dismissal of Jos Buttler.

“When we came on to bowling, I just asked our bowlers to repeat the lengths as much as possible because top of middle-stump and leg-stump, it was very difficult to hit and score boundaries off that. So I think we fell a bit short in terms of our execution. And, yeah, we saw that when we were changing the pace, when we were trying something else, they scored off those loose balls.”

India will now head into the fifth and final T20I in Southampton looking to avoid a 4-1 series defeat, with Iyer still searching for his first victory as India’s T20I captain after six matches in charge.

– Ends