India successfully defended their gold medal in the men’s cricket event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, with Shreyas Iyer leading the side to a 19-run victory over Pakistan in the final. The triumph came in Nisshin on Saturday and added another major achievement to Iyer’s captaincy record. India will now turn their attention to the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies.
Ahead of the opening T20I, India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised Iyer’s leadership qualities and recalled their time together at Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. Gambhir was KKR’s mentor in 2024, while Iyer captained the team. The pair helped the franchise secure its third IPL title that season, strengthening their professional relationship.
Gambhir highlighted what he described as a rare quality in Iyer’s captaincy: his willingness to put the team ahead of his individual batting position. He recalled instances when Iyer was prepared to move down the order to accommodate another batter or create a favourable left-right combination. According to Gambhir, such flexibility is uncommon among captains who are also among their team’s leading batters.
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The India coach described this selflessness as one of the most important characteristics of an effective leader. He said Iyer’s willingness to sacrifice his own position for the team demonstrated that he prioritises the collective objective. Gambhir also praised Iyer’s work ethic, discipline, fitness and batting ability, but emphasised that his selfless approach makes him particularly valuable as a captain.
Iyer’s leadership will now come under focus as India prepare for the T20I series against the West Indies. The team enters the campaign after securing the Asian Games gold and winning their recent three-match ODI series against the West Indies 2-1. With the T20I matches ahead, India will look to build on that momentum while Iyer continues to develop his leadership role.
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