'Lack of game awareness was visible': Ex-India cricketer questions Shreyas Iyer's captaincy calls

Shreyas Iyer's tenure as India's T20I captain began on a disappointing note as the Men in Blue suffered a 34-run defeat to Ireland in the opening match of the two-game series in Belfast on Friday, June 26. Chasing 183, India never found momentum with the bat and eventually folded for 148, but it was Iyer's tactical decisions in the field that also came under scrutiny after the loss.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra questioned some of Iyer's captaincy calls, particularly his handling of the bowling attack. While Prasidh Krishna endured a forgettable outing, leaking 57 runs from his four overs at an economy of 14.25, Iyer persisted with the Gujarat Titans pacer and allowed him to complete his full spell despite the heavy punishment he was receiving.

Chopra also highlighted another decision that raised eyebrows. Off-spinner Washington Sundar, one of India's frontline bowling options, was introduced only in the 16th over. By then, Ireland had already built a strong platform, and Sundar's only over went for 19 runs, leaving many to question whether he should have been brought into the attack much earlier.

Speaking on his YouTube channel after the match, Chopra suggested that India's new captain could have managed his bowling resources differently.

"Prasidh Krishna has played six T20Is for India. He has bowled 24 overs in that. He has taken eight wickets. So he is a bit of a wicket-taker, but look at the economy. He concedes 11.5 runs per over. He has conceded 277 runs in 24 overs. An innings comprises 20 overs, and if we talk about him conceding 277 runs in his 24 overs, that's way too much. So that has become a cause for concern for sure. They had the option to go towards other bowlers. You said you wanted to play Prasidh Krishna, which is okay, but a slight lack of game awareness was visible (saying to Shreyas Iyer)," Chopra said.

Ironically, Prasidh had arrived in Ireland with an outstanding IPL record, having won the Purple Cap in IPL 2025 with 25 wickets before picking up another 16 wickets in 12 matches for Gujarat Titans in the 2026 season. However, those exploits did not translate into success in Belfast.

With India trailing 0-1 in the series, Iyer will have an immediate opportunity to respond. The second T20I will not only test India's ability to bounce back but also provide the new captain with a chance to answer questions surrounding his tactical approach after a challenging start to his leadership stint.