Gautam Gambhir Sends 1st Direct Message To Shreyas Iyer After T20I Captaincy Appointment

Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir [Source: AFP]

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has shared his first direct message for Shreyas Iyer after the latter was appointed India's new T20I captain ahead of the two-match series against Ireland.

The BCCI Men's Selection Committee recently named Shreyas Iyer as India's T20I captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav. 

Notably, the 30-year-old will begin his stint as skipper during the Ireland tour, with the opening T20I scheduled to be played in Belfast on June 26.

Shreyas Iyer Set To Play His First T20I Since 2023

It is important to note that Shreyas has not featured in a T20I for India since December 2023, his appointment comes on the back of his impressive leadership record in IPL. 

The right-handed batter led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to IPL title in 2024 before guiding Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the final in 2025.

Apart from his captaincy success, Iyer also enjoyed an excellent IPL 2026 season with the bat, amassing 498 runs in 13 innings with the impressive strike rate of 168.81

Gautam Gambhir Shares His First Words For Shreyas Iyer After Captaincy Call

Ahead of the start of IRE vs IND T20I series, Gautam Gambhir congratulated the newly-appointed T20I skipper in a video released by the BCCI on Friday, June 26. 

"To start this tour, I want to congratulate Shreyas on being appointed India's captain. It's a huge honour to lead your country, and I'm sure you'll do a fantastic job, not just on the field, but off it as well," the Indian head coach said.

Watch the video here:

BCCI

@BCCI

Taking charge of the pack 🦁 Building a culture of brotherhood 🫂 The beginning of a new leadership journey 🌟 🎥 Shreyas Iyer's first address as skipper and his core message to the squad 🙌 #TeamIndia | #IREvIND | @ShreyasIyer15

Shreyas Iyer Opens Up On His Vision As India's T20I Captain

Responding to Gautam Gambhir's message, Iyer expressed his gratitude and outlined the team culture he hopes to build during his tenure as captain.

"Captaining India is a great honour and privilege. I want to build a strong team culture where everyone supports each other through thick and thin. We're one family. Let's play fearless cricket, enjoy each other's success, and give our best to win every game," Shreyas said. 

Also Read: Shreyas Iyer Sends Warning To Gautam Gambhir After Becoming India's T20I Captain

Gautam Gambhir And Shreyas Iyer Reunite For Team India

However, the Ireland tour marks the first time Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer have come together since Iyer's appointment as India's T20I captain.

For those unaware, Gambhir and Iyer share a long association. Apart from representing India together, the duo also spent several years with Delhi Capitals in IPL. Interestingly, Iyer succeeded Gambhir as the team's captain after the latter stepped down.

Notably, their partnership was reignited during the IPL 2024 season when Gambhir returned to the KKR as mentor, while Iyer led the side as captain. Together, they built one of the most dominant teams in IPL history, guiding KKR to the 2024 title with a commanding campaign.

Now, with the Ireland and England T20I tours set to begin, Gambhir and Iyer will once again join forces, this time for Team India.

Also Read: Indian Team Clashes With Cricket Ireland For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi