New Delhi, October 4 (HS): India’s T20 captain Shreyas Iyer has said that players should trust their natural game without worrying about external pressure or expectations.

Ahead of the five-match T20 series against the West Indies, beginning on October 6, Iyer spoke candidly on JioStar’s programme ‘Follow the Blues: Sarpanch Shreyas’ about the mindset he expects from his players, his approach to batting and his conversations with young batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

Iyer said he wants his players to play fearlessly and not restrict their thinking or style of play. “When you hold back your natural instincts, your true ability does not come through on the field. Therefore, I believe we should trust ourselves far more than the expectations that come from outside. As a team, you know what is happening within the group and how the players are thinking. So, in good times as well as bad, you have to support one another and make sure everyone stands by each other during difficult periods,” he said.

Speaking about his batting strategy, Iyer said he prefers to play according to the situation. If he comes in to bat during the powerplay, he wants to make full use of the fielding restrictions.

“I like to play according to the situation. If I go in to bat during the powerplay, I want to make full use of the fielding restrictions available during that phase. Even in difficult situations, I like to take the attack to the bowlers because that is when aggressive cricket becomes effective. This has been my mindset from the beginning, ever since I started playing for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. Once I get settled, I try to make sure that I create a good platform for the batters who come in after me,” he said.

Speaking about his conversations with young batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Iyer said they do not talk only about cricket. “I keep talking to Vaibhav about things outside the field because everyone talks to him about cricket. We know how talented he is as a person. So, I talk to him about life away from the field, his family, and his likes and dislikes. He feels more comfortable when we have such conversations,” he said.

Iyer further said that Vaibhav is very calm by nature, but displays an extremely aggressive approach on the field. He expressed confidence that once Vaibhav gets a full opportunity to play for India, he will leave his mark on Indian cricket. “At present, we have World Cup-winning opening batters in the team. Vaibhav is currently part of the 15-member squad, and when the right time comes, he will certainly make his presence felt,” he said.

Regarding the series against the West Indies, India captain Iyer made it clear that the team’s first priority would be to win the series. Experiments with the team combination would come only afterwards. According to Iyer, constantly experimenting from the outset can create a sense of insecurity among players.

“When players start wondering whether they will get the next match or not, they become uncertain and confused. I do not like that mindset because I have personally gone through such a situation before and know how it feels from within,” he said.

India have won the three-match ODI series 2-1 under the captaincy of Shubman Gill. India will now play a five-match T20 series against the West Indies under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, beginning October 6.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar