Shreyas Iyer Urges Team to “Support Each Other Through Thick and Thin” Ahead of Captaincy Debut vs England

June 26, 2026

Belfast: Shreyas Iyer called on his teammates to build a strong team culture and play fearless cricket as he prepares to captain India for the first time in T20Is, urging the squad to support one another and “play like Lions” ahead of the five-match series against England.

Leadership Message at Team Huddle in Belfast

Speaking at a team huddle before India’s practice session in Belfast on Saturday, ahead of the series opener on Sunday, Iyer set the tone and explained his leadership approach after World Cup-winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav was replaced by head coach Gautam Gambhir.

“Let’s try to build a solid culture going forward. My first opportunity to captain the Indian team was definitely an honour and privilege, as Gauti bhai mentioned. It’s a great respect as well to be leading the country,” Iyer said during the practice session.

“Play Like Lions” – Iyer’s Vision for Team India

“So going forward, I want to create a culture where all of us are protecting, supporting each other through thick and thin, and more importantly, when we are out here, have as much fun as possible.

“It’s a great opportunity, and this is a family. Let’s play like Lions and approach each and every game like we are going to win it and play to the best of our abilities. Have an atmosphere where we are uplifting each other and enjoying each other’s success.”

New Chapter for India’s T20 Side

The speech provided a peek into the kind of culture that Iyer would want to enforce now that the Indian team is stepping into a new chapter with him at the helm.

Young Talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Draws Attention

The Indian team also had extensive practice in Belfast prior to the opening game, though a majority of eyes were on 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who spent about an hour batting in the nets under the supervision of Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.

While the emerging Vaibhav caught attention, it is Iyer who marks one of the biggest transitions in India’s T20 setup in recent times. The 31-year-old has built a strong captaincy record in franchise cricket, leading Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings to finals and recently guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title under Gambhir’s coaching.

Following the unsuccessful experiment of appointing Shubman Gill as vice-captain, selectors and management turned to Iyer as the replacement for Suryakumar Yadav in terms of leadership.

High Expectations Ahead of England Series

The 31-year-old will have a challenging task ahead as India look to maintain their high T20 standards set in previous cycles, with expectations firmly placed on his leadership from the start of the series.