Shreyas Iyer eyes team bonding, momentum at Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya
Synopsis
Fresh off a 3-0 T20I whitewash of Afghanistan, India captain Shreyas Iyer is targeting the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya as a chance to forge team chemistry in completely unfamiliar territory — with a warm-up game against Japan before the competition and Abhishek Sharma's record 30-ball ton adding serious momentum to the camp.
Key Takeaways
Shreyas Iyer will make his maiden appearance at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
India departs for Japan on Sunday and plays a warm-up T20I against Japan before the Asian Games.
India completed a dominant 3-0 T20I series sweep against Afghanistan ahead of the tournament.
Opener Abhishek Sharma scored a record 30-ball century in the final game on Thursday .
Iyer highlighted dressing room energy and collective responsibility as key drivers of the team's recent form.
India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer has described his maiden appearance at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan as a prime opportunity to adapt to unfamiliar conditions and consolidate team cohesion, riding the wave of the side's commanding 3-0 series sweep over Afghanistan.
India's Asian Games Preparations
The Iyer-led squad is set to depart for Japan on an early morning flight on Sunday, with a warm-up one-off T20I against Japan scheduled before the Asian Games competition begins. Speaking in a video posted on BCCI's official social media accounts on Saturday, Iyer underlined the importance of settling into new conditions quickly.
'Regarding Asian Games, this is going to be my first time. So, I am looking forward to going there and firstly to get used to the conditions because we have never been there before. So, having a set of ideas about how the wickets are over there, it's going to be a combination of everything and the most important aspect is that again we gel along as a team and this series is definitely a great momentum towards Asian Games,' Iyer said.
Praise for Afghanistan and India's Dominant Mindset
Reflecting on the recently concluded series against Afghanistan, Iyer acknowledged the competitive spirit of his opponents while crediting his own side's collective ownership of performances. 'All the Afghani players, if you see and look at them, they are rollicking characters and they have this phenomenal attitude when they step onto the field, they want to win. They have that hunger and zest in them to come out here and perform,' he said.
Iyer noted that the Afghanistan series was India's second successive T20I series win — the first having come in Zimbabwe — and highlighted how every individual stepped up to contribute. 'Every individual took that responsibility to go out there and perform to the best. I feel that it was the contribution that made us win the series with a comprehensive victory,' he added.
Abhishek Sharma's Record-Breaking Knock
Iyer reserved particular praise for opener Abhishek Sharma, who produced standout batting displays throughout the series, including a record 30-ball century in the final game on Thursday. 'Abhishek, the way he batted throughout — he usually has his practice over here in Delhi and he said he is very much used to the wickets around. So, we were expecting big scores from him here and also the previous two games he delivered it, so happy for him,' Iyer said.
Dressing Room Culture as the Driving Force
Attributing India's sustained performances to a positive dressing room environment, Iyer stressed that the collective energy — including from those who were not playing — is central to results on the field. 'We have decided that we are going to set a standard for ourselves and every game you see, we keep getting better. The energy inside the dressing room is what exactly delivers the performance and the results as well,' he said.
With the Asian Games fast approaching, all eyes will be on whether Iyer's squad can carry their dominant T20I form into an unfamiliar setting and emerge as medal contenders for India.
Point of View
Not yet at peak competitive readiness. That is an honest admission for a first-time appearance in an unfamiliar country, and it tempers expectations accordingly. The real metric to watch will be how quickly India's top order — energised by Abhishek Sharma's record century — adjusts to Japanese conditions, which differ sharply from the subcontinental pitches the squad is built around. If Iyer can convert dressing room positivity into adaptable match-day execution, this campaign could serve as a genuine template for India's T20 future.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will India leave for the Asian Games and who will they play first?
India departs for Japan on Sunday in an early morning flight. The team will first play a one-off T20I against Japan as a warm-up before entering the Asian Games competition in Aichi-Nagoya.
What did Shreyas Iyer say about the Asian Games?
Iyer said the Asian Games will be his first time competing there and that adapting to unfamiliar conditions is a top priority. He also emphasised team bonding as the most important aspect, calling the Afghanistan series a 'great momentum' builder heading into the tournament.
What was Abhishek Sharma's notable achievement in the Afghanistan series?
Abhishek Sharma scored a record 30-ball century in the final T20I against Afghanistan on Thursday. Iyer praised Sharma's consistency across all three games, saying the team had expected big scores from him given his familiarity with Delhi wickets.
How did India perform in the Afghanistan T20I series?
India won the series 3-0 against Afghanistan, with Iyer describing the team's approach as dominant and optimistic throughout. He noted it was India's second successive T20I series triumph, following an earlier win in Zimbabwe.
Why does Iyer consider the dressing room culture important?
Iyer believes that the energy of all squad members — including those not playing — directly translates into on-field results. He said the team has set a standard for itself and attributed the consistent improvements across the Afghanistan series to this collective mindset.
