‘Lack of awareness of the game was visible’: Ex-India cricketer questions Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy calls | Cricket News
Shreyas IyerThe India T20I Captain’s tenure started on a disappointing note as the Men in Blue suffered a 34-run defeat to Ireland in the opening match of the two-match series in Belfast on Friday, June 26. Chasing 183, India never found momentum with the bat and eventually folded for 148, but it was Iyer’s tactical decisions in the field that also came under scrutiny after the loss.The ancient opening of India Akash Chopra questioning some of Iyer’s captaincy calls, especially his handling of the bowling attack. While Prasidh Krishna suffered a forgettable outing, fleeing 57 runs from his four overs at an economy of 14.25, Iyer persisted with the Gujarat Titans pacer and allowed him to complete his full spell despite the heavy punishment he was taking.Chopra also highlighted another decision that raised eyebrows. Off-spinner Washington Sundar, one of India’s frontline bowling options, was only introduced in the 16th over. By then, Ireland had already built a strong platform, and Sundar’s single went for 19 runs, leaving many to question whether he should have been brought into the attack much earlier.Speaking on his YouTube channel after the match, Chopra suggested that India’s new captain could have managed his bowling resources differently. “Prasidh Krishna played six T20Is for India. He bowled 24 overs in it. He took eight wickets. So he is a bit of a wicket-taker, but look at the economy. He concedes 11.5 runs per over. He conceded 277 runs in 24 overs. in his 24 overs, which is too much, so it became a cause of concern that they had the option of going towards other bowlers. You said you wanted to play Prasidh Krishna, which is fine, but a slight lack of awareness of the game was visible (saying to shreyas Iyer), Chopra said.Ironically, Prasidh had arrived in Ireland with an outstanding IPL record, having won the Purple Cap in IPL 2025 with 25 wickets before taking another 16 wickets in 12 matches for Gujarat Titans in the 2026 season. However, those exploits did not translate into success in Belfast.With India trailing 0-1 in the series, Iyer will have an immediate opportunity to respond. The second T20I will not only test India’s ability to bounce back but also provide the new captain with a chance to answer questions surrounding his tactical approach after a challenging start to his leadership stint.
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