Shreyas Iyer is confident that India's young players, including teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, will learn from their recent struggles and return stronger in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. Iyer has endured a difficult start to his captaincy, with India suffering successive series defeats to Ireland and England, leaving him still in search of his first win as skipper. The inexperienced batting unit also found it difficult to cope with pressure in crucial moments. Vaibhav, who made his India debut against England after an impressive domestic and IPL season, endured a quiet start to his international career, managing scores of 14, 13 and 15 in three innings. Despite the disappointing returns, the team management remains optimistic that the youngster will benefit from the experience and quickly find his feet at the highest level.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has a quiet start to international cricket. (ANI Pic Service)
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Expressing faith in the young squad, Iyer said players like Sooryavanshi would have analysed their mistakes and put in the hard work to correct them ahead of the Zimbabwe series.
"All the youngsters, I think, they have definitely practiced. There was a decent gap after the T20 series. So he (Sooryavanshi) must have rectified where he went wrong. So personally, I don't have to give much advice," Iyer told reporters.
After losing six of his first seven T20Is as captain in series defeats to Ireland and England, Shreyas has an opportunity to turn things around against Zimbabwe. The three-match series offers India a chance to regain winning momentum and restore confidence after a disappointing run in the shortest format.
“Fear of failure has no place in this team”
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Iyer also stressed the importance of playing with a free mind, without fear of failure, and asked the young Indian players to stay focused on the present rather than being weighed down by outside opinions.
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Iyer also stressed the importance of playing with a free mind, without fear of failure, and asked the young Indian players to stay focused on the present rather than being weighed down by outside opinions.
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"I feel that they shouldn't have the fear of failure. Because whenever there are such thoughts at the back of your mind, then you just play to survive. When there isn't the thought of fear of failure, then you can bring out the best from within yourself. So I have to convey this message that you shouldn't think much about the talk happening outside, what people will say, or as you said if this series goes up or down. We have to stay in the present day. The better cricket we play, the more we play with team unity, the more the team will benefit from it. We'll think about individuals later," he said.
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.
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Home/Cricket/'Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must have rectified where he went wrong': Shreyas Iyer doesn't have much advice for teenage star
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