Shreyas Iyer, managing the T20I team, lauded interim head coach VVS Laxman for his efforts to inspire his team after it swept Zimbabwe 3-0 to secure the last match of the series by an impressive 35-run margin.
Even with the absence of star players like Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, etc, the Indian side, which lacked experience, showed impressive restraint both as a team and as an individual in their bid to dominate Zimbabwe during the series.
In his dressing room video, the BCCI showed how VVS Laxman spoke highly of Iyer’s leadership and positive mindset upon his debut as India’s T20 captain in a tough 0-4 T20I series earlier this month with England.
It was Iyer’s positive outlook on the team who stayed cheered up from the initial days and his efforts in inspiring all the players that helped him retain his positivity which is what made him stay on standby, said Laxman.
“A lot of credit for this victory should be given to the captain,” Laxman said.
Iyer thanked Laxman for his encouragement and guidance in the tour.
“Thank you VVS sir for motivating us and inspiring us. Everything you mentioned before we stepped onto the field was something we could relate to,” Iyer said.
The Indian captain also lauded the skill and effort put in by the whole team that had given a near flawless display in the series except for a number of misfields.
Laxman led the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence and was appointed as coach on taking a short break from South Africa’s head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir would be returning to India for its upcoming Test tour to Sri Lanka in August.