MUMBAI: Shreyas Iyer’s appointment as India’s T20I captain after the team’s World Cup triumph earlier this year surprised many. India will soon travel to New Zealand for a one-and-a-half-month all-format tour, starting with a five-match T20I series in Christchurch on Oct 22. Waiting there will be Iyer’s Punjab Kings teammate and New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, who has only praise for his leadership.“The best captains I’ve played under have been really consistent and don’t ride the ups and downs of the game, particularly in T20 cricket where it ebbs and flows so quickly,” Ferguson said during an interaction organised by Sony Sports. “Shreyas is calm, speaks clearly, has a clear plan and gives you feedback, but also allows you to bowl to your plan because he knows that’s your strength. Those are the guys you want by your side because, regardless of the outcome, they thank you and give you every opportunity to succeed.”Ferguson said Iyer had handled the pressure of leading India well. “He’s a level-headed character. It can be difficult with the external pressures that come with playing for India, but he seems to have found a clear way to interact with fans while staying humble and consistent with his process,” Ferguson said. “He plays the game the way he wants to and captains the way he wants to. I’m not surprised he’s India’s captain, and I really enjoyed my time with him at Punjab.”Ferguson is also impressed with India’s current batting depth. Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma and Iyer have helped India move on after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from the format following the 2024 T20 World Cup.“The whole country wants to play for India, and that drives competition for places and pushes the game forward. The IPL has played a major role in that,” Ferguson said. “What I’ve noticed most in recent years is the lack of fear among players, which probably comes from the intense competition for spots.”Ferguson also spoke highly of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has generated buzz since being included in India’s T20I squad. “He’s a high-quality player. We had some games against him in the IPL and, clearly, he’s an amazing talent,” he said. “It’s an exciting opportunity for him to travel, experience New Zealand and see how cricket is played here. The conditions are different, so there will be challenges, but it’s going to be exciting.”