Iyer backs India’s adaptability ahead of New Zealand T20Is

India’s packed T20I calendar has taken them from Ireland, England, India, and to Japan and the Asian Games before a closely contested series against West Indies at home. With that series ending 2-2 on 17 October, the team have quickly shifted their focus to New Zealand, where the five-match T20I series begins on 22 October.

New Zealand’s conditions are expected to offer a different challenge, particularly with the hosts generally enjoying pace-friendly surfaces.

Captain Shreyas Iyer, who has played in the country before, believes the key will be to assess the conditions quickly rather than make assumptions ahead of the matches.

“I've also been here before, and it's not like the conditions are completely different,” he said.

“But on a given day, no one knows how the wicket will be. So, we'll try to acclimatise as soon as possible, and if we have a good practice session, then every individual will get a fair idea about how to plan.”

While the frequency of matches presents its own challenges, Iyer believes the team can use the experience to their advantage as they prepare for a new set of conditions in New Zealand.

“It's fun at the same time to be traveling, playing and getting accustomed to new conditions,” he said.

“We just want to put the reasons aside and see to it about how we would be planning to win.”

For Iyer, the demanding schedule is something the team have grown accustomed to, with the emphasis firmly on adapting to new conditions and finding ways to win.

“We have been playing so continuously, from Japan to India, from India to New Zealand," Iyer said while speaking in the pre-match press conference in Christchurch.

"Continuously, we are used to it now, in a way. So, this pattern has been set in our system. We are getting less sleep, but the more matches we play, the better it is for us,” he added.

One of the notable talking points ahead of the series is the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar to India’s T20I setup. The experienced seamer last represented India in the format in November 2022 and brings a wealth of experience with the new ball, particularly his ability to generate swing.

Iyer welcomed his return, highlighting the value of having an experienced campaigner in a bowling group that has featured several new faces in recent months.

“Bhuvi brings a lot of experience to the team. And we were lacking that a little, especially after IPL, we had a lot of new bowlers,” Iyer said.

“But in T20, if you see his career graph in the last two years, he has also won IPL, so he has a very good idea about how to dominate this format.”

India’s depth across departments also gives the team several options when it comes to selection and batting positions. For Iyer, competition for places is a positive, provided it encourages players to maintain their standards and contribute to the team’s ultimate goal.

“It's good in a way, and it motivates the current team members that we have to perform consistently for the team,” he said, referring to the availability of backups across the squad.

“The most important thing is to win the match. That is the eventual goal.

“It's a sweet headache, but it's important for every team,” he added.

The captain also stressed the need for players to adapt to the demands of a particular match rather than become fixed on a specific batting position.

Having featured at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 in recent months, Iyer said he was comfortable batting wherever the team needed him.

“I can bat at any number; it depends upon the situation, what is the situation of the game in that position,” he said.

“Every individual, whoever is in the team, has to be flexible because conditions will demand, situations will demand, and whatever number you get, you have to be happy in that.”

India’s squad also includes young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose opportunities will be shaped by the team’s existing options at the top of the order. Iyer emphasised the importance of ensuring the youngster remains comfortable within the group while gaining valuable exposure to overseas conditions.

“He is very young and he has more years to get the opportunity,” Iyer said.

“It's not like he can walk in right now because our openers are also scoring consistently and they have also won the (T20) World Cup. So, if you look at it, when he is coming overseas, he will get a fair idea of how to play on these particular wickets.”

The captain added that time spent with the team in different conditions could help Sooryavanshi prepare for future opportunities and pass on his experiences to other young players.

With New Zealand’s familiarity with home conditions likely to be an advantage, Iyer acknowledged that the hosts know what to expect at their different venues. However, he believes the contest between the two finalists of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup will ultimately depend on the cricket played on the day.

“On a given day, competition is equal. And when you step onto the field, you only want to win. So, whoever plays the best cricket is going to win.”

Series schedule:

First T20I: 22 October, Christchurch 
Second T20I: 24 October, Christchurch 
Third T20I: 27 October, Wellington
Fourth T20I: 30 October, Auckland
Fifth T20I: 1 November, Hamilton