Shreyas Iyer is set to lead India in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, beginning October 22, 2026, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Ahead of the series, former India Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara has spoken about the significance a series win in New Zealand would carry for Iyer’s development as a captain.
Pujara made clear that performing well in overseas conditions holds a different weight for any Indian captain or player.
“When you go to New Zealand and defeat the New Zealand team, it’s a big achievement. Performing well in overseas conditions for the Indian team in any format, whether it is ODIs, T20Is, or a Test match, boosts your confidence. If you do well there as a captain or as a team, your confidence goes up, that you can perform well not just in Indian conditions, but anywhere in the world,” Pujara said on JioStar.
Iyer currently holds the T20I captaincy for India and also serves as vice-captain in ODIs. He was additionally named captain for the fourth and fifth ODIs of the New Zealand series, as announced on October 19, 2026.
What does Iyer’s captaincy record look like heading into the New Zealand series?
Before the New Zealand T20I series, Iyer had captained India in 21 T20I matches, recording 11 wins, 8 losses and 2 no-results, giving him a win rate of 52.38 per cent. His tenure began with losses to Ireland and England, but he then led India to 3-0 clean sweep victories over Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, and also guided the side to a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games.
India’s most recent T20I assignment before this tour was a home series against West Indies, which ended in a 2-2 draw. On October 6, 2026, the same day the squad for the New Zealand tour was announced, Iyer scored his maiden T20I century, an unbeaten 101 against West Indies, underlining his form heading into the series.
The New Zealand tour therefore represents one of the more demanding overseas assignments of Iyer’s captaincy so far, coming after the England tour that preceded it.
How does Abhishek Nayar view the comparison between Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav as captain?
Former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar addressed the debate around comparing Iyer’s captaincy with that of Suryakumar Yadav, pointing out that the context of each captain’s tenure has been different. Nayar noted that India played a large number of T20Is at home or in subcontinental conditions during Suryakumar’s period, while Iyer’s tenure has involved more away assignments, including tours to England, Zimbabwe, Japan and now New Zealand.
“It’s not about whether he’s worthy or not in comparison to Surya, because, at that time, India played a lot of series in India. They didn’t travel a lot. After Shreyas Iyer took up captaincy, they’ve gone to England, and now they’re going to New Zealand. So, a lot of the T20Is have been played away from home, in Zimbabwe and Japan. I remember that, building up to the T20 World Cup, we were playing a lot more at home and in subcontinental conditions than away. So, that comparison is out of the way. Whenever you go to New Zealand and win in foreign conditions, I think that captain will feel in control of the team and earn the respect of everyone around him, because that’s where you are judged the most. So, if you win, like they say, it’s a star on your chest, going to New Zealand and winning the series. It didn’t happen in England, but it happened here, if it does happen. So, it will be one of those things for him personally, that ‘I can win abroad as well’ as a captain,” Nayar said on JioStar.
Both Pujara and Nayar’s remarks underline the broader view that overseas success, particularly in a country like New Zealand, carries considerable weight in shaping a captain’s standing within the team and beyond.
