'We're prioritising T20 WC over bilateral series, these are chances to learn' - Shreyas Iyer after India's loss in 2nd South Africa T20I

Indian batter Shreyas Iyer has said that the priority will be the execution of plans with the T20 World Cup 2022 in mind and not just winning the bilateral series. The two games so far in the five-match T20I series against South Africa have returned two losses under the captaincy of Rishabh Pant.

India went in with the same playing XI in the second T20I despite the loss in the first and it was Heinrich Klassen who turned out to be the big difference between the sides. The Proteas batter replaced Tristan Stubbs in the lineup and played a match-winning inning of a 46-ball 81 to take his side home in a 149-run chase. However, there was a lot of intent from the Indian batters to go after the bowling despite wickets falling around.

These are the actual games where we can practise: Shreyas Iyer

Iyer mentioned that the priority for India will the T20 World Cup in Australia and felt the need for playing with a free mindset. He noted that the series is an opportunity to practice the areas of concern that were lacking in the past and reckoned that the failure will definitely help them in the long run for growth as a player and as a team.

“Our main aim is obviously the World Cup, so we have to see to it that we plan towards it. So we have that sort of mindset where we are completely free and not thinking about anything else. These are the actual games where we can practise what we were lacking in the past. That’s what we keep discussing in the team meeting as well.”

“No matter what happens, whatever plans we discuss in the team meeting, we have to execute those. Even if we fail, we will learn from that and grow as a player and grow as a team. So that’s more important till we reach Australia,” Iyer told in the press match conference after the second T20I.

He added that the plan will be to attack the bowling even if wickets keep falling and highlighted the importance of backing themselves and their instincts.

“We have made this plan that we will keep going no matter what happens. Even if we keep losing wickets, it’s our game plan and in the future too, we will go in with the same mindset. We will back ourselves and back our instincts,” he added.