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- “He’s doing what he loves” – Ajay Jadeja on Shreyas Iyer’s control in NZ vs IND 2026 T20Is Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja reported on Shreyas Iyer’s control on SonyLIV after India won the five-match T20I series against New Zealand 3-2.
- Shreyas Iyer (Credit: Shreyas Iyer/X) India completed the five-match T20I series against New Zealand with a 3-2 scoreline, winning the first three games before New Zealand won the last two.
- The series also marked India’s first T20I series win in a SENA country under the ctaincy of Shreyas Iyer.
“He’s doing what he loves” – Ajay Jadeja on Shreyas Iyer’s control in NZ vs IND 2026 T20Is Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja reported on Shreyas Iyer’s control on SonyLIV after India won the five-match T20I series against New Zealand 3-2.
Shreyas Iyer (Credit: Shreyas Iyer/X) India completed the five-match T20I series against New Zealand with a 3-2 scoreline, winning the first three games before New Zealand won the last two. The series also marked India’s first T20I series win in a SENA country under the ctaincy of Shreyas Iyer. Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja reviewed the series on SonyLIV and gave a measured assessment of Iyer’s leadership throughout the campaign.
Jadeja noted that Iyer’s proach has been consistent and confident during the matches he has watched. “I think Shreyas Iyer has been under constant scrutiny ever since I saw him. This is a confident young clan.
He does what he likes. He even tried a bit today,” Jadeja said on SonyLIV. One of the key points Jadeja raised was the composition of India’s bowling attack throughout the series.
He pointed out that Nitish Kumar Reddy was used as the fourth and fifth bowler in T20Is 1-4 with Axar Patel also being part of the attack along with three specialist seamers. In the fifth and final T20I, Varun Chakaravarthy came into play and gave India a credited fifth bowling run while Nitish Kumar Reddy continued his role. What did Jadeja say about Iyer’s bowling?
Jadeja’s review focused on the limited tactical flexibility of a group if the team does not field five specialist bowlers. He argued that the lack of a full complement of bowlers limits each group’s oons during a game, regardless of their style or confidence. Jadeja further explained the advantage of having five bowlers at his disposal.
“He tried to change the bowling differently when he had five pure bowlers. However, until you play five bowlers, what decision can a group make? He has no choice at all.
If you ask me, I am talking about five bowlers. If you watch a 10 game series, the no. 8 can’t bat until the 18th, but all five bowlers play in these 10 games.
It’s up to you how you want to see it. If a team plays five bowlers, the players’ hands are not tied,” said Jadeja. How did Jadeja rate India’s holistic proach?
Beyond discussing luck, Jadeja also touched on the Indian team’s broader selection philosophy during the series. India fielded eight batters in some games despite the risks associated with this proach, a decision that contributed to an 87-run defeat in the fourth T20I. In contrast, India managed to score 225 in the series opener, which Jadeja used as an example to show that the strategy paid off.
Jadeja described India’s preference for all-rounders over specialist bowlers as a policy that carries inherent trade-offs. “Our thought process is that we focus more on versatile players. That’s a double-edged sword.
The day you have to bat first is a defeat, we saw that in the last game. However, batting second – you chased 225 in the first game – works in your favour. This is a political decision or a difference in the team’s thought process.
There is no right or wrong in this,” Jadeja said.
