Indian T20 captain Shreyas Iyer is gearing up for his debut at the 2026 , viewing the event as an opportunity to adapt to unfamiliar conditions and build team cohesion following India’s recent 3-0 series victory over Afghanistan.
Iyer’s squad is set to depart for Japan on Sunday morning, where they will play a T20 International match against Japan before heading to the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. In a video posted on the BCCI’s social media platform, Iyer expressed his eagerness to acclimate to the local environment, stating, “This will be my first opportunity at the Asian Games. I look forward to adapting to the conditions since we have never been there before.”
He emphasized the importance of understanding the pitch conditions, noting, “Having some idea about how the pitch behaves will play a significant role. Most importantly, we need to gel as a team, and this match will certainly provide great momentum for the Asian Games.”
Reflecting on India’s series win against Afghanistan, Iyer praised the opponent’s spirited performance while commending his team’s dominant and positive approach throughout the series. “The Afghan players are very passionate, and their attitude on the field is impressive; they want to win. They came here with a hunger to perform well,” he said.
Iyer highlighted the significance of their first series win in Zimbabwe and noted the home-like atmosphere during the second series, which contributed to their success. “Every player took responsibility to perform at their best on the field, and I believe this collective effort led us to a fantastic series victory.”
The captain further noted that the team’s positive mindset was crucial. “When we stepped onto the field, we aimed to build momentum ahead of the tournament, and you could see our dominant attitude in the first match. Afghanistan’s approach was excellent, and I think that continued in the second and third games.”
Iyer also singled out opener Abhishek Sharma for his outstanding performance, particularly in the , where he scored the fastest T20 International century by a full-member nation in just 30 balls. “Abhishek’s batting was fantastic. He usually practices here in Delhi and mentioned he is well-acquainted with the local pitches. That’s why we expected big scores from him, and he delivered in the last two matches,” Iyer remarked.
Acknowledging the team’s consistent performance, Iyer attributed their success to the supportive atmosphere in the dressing room. “The energy outside the field translates directly into our performance. We have decided to set a standard for ourselves, and you will see that we are improving with each game. This reflects the mindset of every player, whether they are on the field or sitting out. Their contributions matter because the energy in the dressing room truly influences our performance and results.”