New Delhi. While the Indian team was dismantling Zimbabwe on the field in Harare, interim coach VVS Laxman was busy cementing his credentials from the dugout during a successful campaign. Following the conclusion of the series, the Indian captain's strong words of appreciation for VVS Laxman highlighted the positive atmosphere within the camp and how the young squad executed their plans to secure a dominant victory.
A Dominant Series Victory in Harare
This Indian touring party featured a relatively young and inexperienced squad, missing several regular stars such as Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana. Despite the absence of these senior names, the team outplayed the hosts and comfortably claimed the series. The campaign concluded on Sunday with a 35-run victory in the third and final T20 international. Throughout the three matches, the squad displayed immense resilience and skill, giving emerging players a valuable platform to showcase their talent on the international stage.
Shreyas Iyer Expresses Gratitude to VVS Laxman
Taking the opportunity to thank the coaching staff, captain Shreyas Iyer acknowledged the vital role played by VVS Laxman, who stepped in as interim head coach in the absence of Gautam गंभीर. The regular head coach was taking a well-deserved break following a demanding tour of the UK and is scheduled to return for the Test series against Sri Lanka in August. Iyer noted that the team was almost flawless throughout the series, barring a few dropped catches, and praised the phenomenal collective effort from everyone including the support staff. He specifically thanked Laxman for mentoring and motivating the group every single day, adding that whatever the coach said resonated deeply with the players when they stepped onto the field. Laxman heads the National Cricket Academy or the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for the BCCI and regularly steps in for short-format interim coaching assignments when required.
Laxman Praises Iyer's Resilience and Leadership
In a dressing room video released by the BCCI, VVS Laxman spoke at length about the immense mental strength shown by the captain. Laxman pointed out that Shreyas Iyer's captaincy stint had faced a difficult start earlier in the month when India suffered a 0-4 series defeat against England, marking his first major setback as T20 skipper. However, the way he bounced back and joined the team just a day before the opening match with boundless optimism was commendable. Laxman highlighted that this was a fresh group of players, with only four or five members traveling from the England leg, yet the skipper's unwavering confidence and proactive encouragement for every single teammate deserved immense credit for the series triumph.
