'We have to back ourselves' - Shreyas Iyer reveals mindset ahead of West Indies T20I series

India captain Shreyas Iyer has outlined his approach to the upcoming five-match T20I series against West Indies, which begins October 6 in Lucknow. The series will span five matches across Lucknow, Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, with Iyer leading the side and Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain.

Speaking ahead of the series, Iyer emphasised the importance of creating an environment where players feel empowered to express their natural abilities without hesitation or self-doubt. He believes that restricting instincts limits a team's capacity to perform at its highest level.

"We want players to be more liberal, more expressive in terms of being fearless out there and not restrict their instincts. Because when you curb your instincts, your natural abilities are not portrayed out there. So, I feel that we have to back ourselves more than what the expectations are from outside. Because as a team, you know what is going on inside the team, what kind of mindset players are around. So, through thick and thin, you’ve got to support each other and see to it that when the tough time comes, everyone has got each other’s back," Iyer said as quoted by JioStar.

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Iyer's emphasis on internal support and fearlessness forms the core of his captaincy philosophy for the series. He believes that players perform best when they trust their instincts and feel backed by their teammates and leadership. The captain's approach prioritises creating an environment where players feel secure enough to express their natural abilities without second-guessing themselves or worrying about external expectations.

Series priority over early experimentation

Iyer's focus remains on securing the series rather than experimenting with the playing combination from the outset. He believes that introducing too many changes early in the series can create uncertainty among players about their selection prospects and undermine team cohesion.

"The most important thing for me is to win the series, and then we can experiment with the playing combination. Experimenting from the start doesn’t make sense because then the players also get insecure, and then they start questioning themselves, questioning others around the dressing room. And then they go in that dilemma phase where they feel like, ‘Will I get a match ahead or will I not get one?’ I don’t like that mindset. I’ve been in that mindset in the past, and I know how it feels from inside," Iyer said.