India batter Shreyas Iyer praised interim head coach VVS Laxman for his guidance and mentorship after the team completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe. The two shared mutual appreciation after India’s convincing 35-run victory in the third and final match, with Iyer highlighting Laxman’s influence during the series. Laxman stepped in as India’s interim head coach in the absence of regular head coach Gautam Gambhir, who took a break following the demanding tour of the United Kingdom. Gambhir is expected to return for India’s upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka in August.

Speaking after the series win, Iyer expressed his admiration for Laxman’s approach and the support he provided to the team. He said the former India batter’s experience and understanding of the game helped create a positive environment for the players during the Zimbabwe tour. The series saw a relatively new-look Indian team take on Zimbabwe, with several regular players, including Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, unavailable for selection. Despite the absence of key names, India produced a dominant performance and secured a clean sweep.

Laxman, meanwhile, praised Iyer’s confidence and leadership qualities during the series. The interim coach highlighted the batter’s ability to take responsibility as India’s T20 captain and appreciated the positive energy he brought to the squad. The Indian team displayed strong all-round performances throughout the three-match series. After winning the opening two games, India continued their dominance in the final T20I, posting a competitive total before restricting Zimbabwe to seal the series 3-0.

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The tour also provided opportunities for emerging players to showcase their abilities. Young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was among the standout performers, earning Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards after impressive contributions across the series. Iyer’s leadership role in the absence of several senior players gave him an opportunity to demonstrate his decision-making skills and ability to guide a young squad. His partnership with Laxman helped India maintain a balanced approach despite the challenges of managing an inexperienced team.

The former India cricketer has previously worked with several young players through his role at the National Cricket Academy and has been involved in developing India’s next generation of talent. His presence during the Zimbabwe series provided continuity and experience to a changing squad. India’s clean sweep in Zimbabwe marked a successful outing for the young team and the interim coaching setup. The mutual respect between Iyer and Laxman reflected the positive atmosphere within the squad as India continues to build depth ahead of future international assignments.

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