'He does what he likes' - Ajay Jadeja on Shreyas Iyer's captaincy in NZ vs IND 2026 T20Is

India wrapped up the five-match T20I series against New Zealand with a 3-2 result, winning the first three matches before New Zealand claimed the final two. The series also marked India's first T20I series victory in a SENA nation under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy.

Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja reviewed the series on SonyLIV and offered a measured assessment of Iyer's leadership throughout the campaign. Jadeja noted that Iyer's approach had been steady and self-assured across the matches he had observed.

"I think Shreyas Iyer's captaincy has been consistent since the time I have seen him. He is a confident, young captain. He does what he likes. He even tried a little today," Jadeja said on SonyLIV.

One of the central points Jadeja raised was the composition of India's bowling attack across the series. He pointed out that Nitish Kumar Reddy had been used as the fourth and fifth bowling option in T20Is 1 to 4, with Axar Patel also part of the attack alongside three specialist seamers. In the fifth and final T20I, Varun Chakaravarthy came into the side, giving India a fifth recognised bowling option while Nitish Kumar Reddy continued in his role.

What did Jadeja say about Iyer's bowling options?

Jadeja's review centred on the limited tactical flexibility a captain has when the side does not field five specialist bowlers. He argued that the absence of a full complement of bowling options restricts what any captain can do during a match, regardless of their individual style or confidence. Jadeja elaborated further on the value of having five bowlers available.

"He tried to make changes in the bowling differently when he had five pure bowlers. However, until you play five bowlers, what decision can a captain make? He doesn't have choices at all. If you ask me, I talk about five bowlers. If you see any series of 10 matches, the No. 6 to No. 8 don't get to bat until the 18th over, but all five bowlers bowl in those 10 matches. It's your choice how you want to see it. When a team plays five bowlers, the captain's hands are not tied," Jadeja said.

How did Jadeja assess India's all-rounder-heavy approach?

Beyond the captaincy discussion, Jadeja also addressed India's broader team selection philosophy during the series. India fielded eight batters in certain matches despite the risks that came with that approach, a decision that contributed to an 87-run defeat in the fourth T20I. In contrast, India successfully chased 225 in the opening match of the series, which Jadeja used as an example of when the strategy paid off. Jadeja described India's preference for all-rounders over specialist bowlers as a policy that carries inherent trade-offs.

"Our thought process is that we are going more towards all-rounders. That's a double-edged sword. The day you have to bat first, it's a loss, which we got to see in the last match. However, if you bat second - you chased 225 in the first match - it goes in your favor. It's a policy decision or a difference in the team's thought process. There is no right or wrong in that," Jadeja said.