The interim coach of the Indian national men's cricket team, VVS Laxman and its captain, Shreyas Iyer, credited each other's roles as the blues swept past Zimbawe in a 3-0 series win.
India, despite missing its star-studded lineup, clinched the series away from the battered home team. The away team ended Sunday's match with a 35-run win in the third and final T20I.
India’s coach, In a dressing room video released by BCCI, spoke extensively about the team captain’s stoicism against adversity.
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"I would like to specially congratulate Shreyas because he had a rough start to his captaincy career but the way he came back, right from the first day when he joined us one day before the first game, he was very optimistic," said Laxman, referring to the 0-4 loss to England earlier this month, which was Iyer's first bout as India's T20 captain.
"It's a new group of players. We know that only four or five of those who were there in England joined us on this tour. But he was so confident and a lot of credit for this victory should be given to the captain, the way he encouraged each one of you," added the coach.
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Iyer, on the other hand, thanked Laxman, who filled in for their regular head coach Gautam Gambhir. The later is currently on a break after the UK tour and will return for the Sri Lanka test series in August.
"I think we were flawless, honestly speaking, throughout the series barring the catches that we dropped. It was a phenomenal effort by everyone in the team, including the support staff,” said Iyer.
"Thank you VVS sir for motivating us and inspiring us. Each and every day when we stepped onto the field, I think everything that you mentioned was apt and we could relate to it. So, thank you so much," added the team captain.
Laxman serves as interim coach on short tours when required and is the head of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
