Although India pocketed the IND vs NZ T20I series, captain Shreyas Iyer has drawn plenty of flak for a second consecutive low score amid what has been an inconsistent run with the bat since becoming the T20I skipper.
The visitors took an unassailable lead of 3-0 through three wins in as many games, with two more games to go, in the India vs New Zealand T20I series.
However, the scrutiny of Iyer looms – at least as far as the fans are concerned – more so after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blasted 45 runs off 19 balls. Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in the playing XI, in place of the injured Ishan Kishan, prompted the management to push Sanju Samson to No. 3.
Earlier, Iyer was made the captain of the T20I team despite spending a considerable period away from the side. He replaced captain Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to the T20 World Cup 2026 trophy but had been out of form for a while.
Iyer’s run as the T20I captain began with series defeats in Ireland and England before India pounced upon Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. Under Iyer, then, India won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan.
Upon returning home, India drew 2-2 to the West Indies in a series in which they were considered favorites, but the Men in Blue now have beaten New Zealand in three consecutive matches.
IND vs NZ 3rd T20I: ‘Drop Shreyas Iyer’ Trends On Twitter Amid Inconsistent Performances
Iyer’s returns with the bat haven’t been ideal. In 24 T20I innings since becoming the captain, Iyer has averaged 32 with a strike rate of 147. He’s reached the fifty-run mark only thrice in this period, but once carried on to make a century, the first of his T20I career.
Iyer’s last six innings have seen three single-digit scores and only once he crossed 25. What has irked the fans even more recently is that he took up plenty of deliveries in the last two run chases – 7 (11) and 5 (10) – whereas the other Indian batsmen have been batting aggressively with high-risk shots.
Sooryavanshi got the opportunity in the India vs New Zealand series due to an injury to Kishan. However, when Kishan is fit, Sooryavanshi will most likely sit out, and Samson would be back opening with Abhishek Sharma.
Netizens debated Iyer’s position in the team amid his inconsistent run with the bat and began a trend of ‘Drop Shreyas Iyer’.
Fans have expressed displeasure at the fact that Sooryavanshi or Samson, who has three fifties in his last seven innings, will sit out when Kishan comes back, but Iyer couldn’t be dropped at the moment since he’s the captain.
Some Indian cricket team fans have even nominated Samson or Kishan to take over the captaincy if that could allow Iyer to be dropped, a method that could pave the way for both Samson and Vaibhav to play in the same team.
Check out the tweets against Iyer:
When is IND vs NZ 4th T20I?
The India vs New Zealand will be hosted at Eden Park, Auckland, on October 30, Friday. Indian fans can watch the match on the Sony Sports Network TV channels as well as the Sony Liv app and website from 12:30 PM IST.
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