Shreyas Iyer registers worst-ever streak by India captain in T20Is

Shreyas Iyer’s tenure as India’s T20I captain could not have begun on a worse note. Fans expected him to make a strong statement in Ireland, but instead, India suffered their first-ever series defeat to the Irish, humbled 2-0.

The England tour has only added to the misery. India have slumped to a 3-0 deficit after the first four matches and are staring at the prospect of a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Harry Brook and his men.

India’s position at the top of the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings is now hanging by a thread. The Men in Blue currently hold 269 rating points, but England are breathing down their necks with 267. A win for England in the fifth and final T20I at The Rose Bowl in Southampton would see them leapfrog India to become the new No. 1-ranked side in the format.

Adding to the gloom, Shreyas Iyer has become the first Indian T20I captain to go six matches without a win. It is the longest winless streak by any Indian skipper in the format. Previously, Rishabh Pant held the unwanted record with two consecutive losses when he stepped in as interim captain in June 2022, filling in for Rohit Sharma. Pant lost back-to-back games against South Africa in Delhi and Cuttack before finally tasting victory in Vizag.

Both Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli also began their captaincy journeys with defeats in their first T20Is, but quickly course-corrected with wins in their next outings.

On the broader stage, Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura holds the unenviable record for the longest winless streak after appointment. He went 13 matches without a victory before finally breaking through.

Longest winless streaks as T20I captain after appointment