Captaining the Indian cricket team is never easy. When you win, you're hailed as a genius. When you lose, the criticism comes thick and fast. Shreyas Iyer is experiencing that harsh reality after India failed to win a single T20I across seven matches in England and Ireland.

It was a tough start for Iyer, who replaced Suryakumar Yadav as T20I captain. Alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir, he came under scrutiny as India flopped in all departments. Yes, Iyer scored runs in the back end of the tour, but his captaincy lacked sharpness, and the results spoke for themselves.

So, did the weight of expectation get to him? Not at all, he says.

"I feel it's a privilege to take over the captaincy. Every individual dreams of leading India," Iyer told reporters. "I love pressure. Thriving in these moments will make me better. I'm not thinking about what people will say; good and bad are part of the game."

For Iyer, the biggest takeaway is staying positive and nurturing his players, especially with the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia on the horizon. "Going forward, I need to be extremely positive and nurture everyone around me, especially in overseas conditions. Building camaraderie in these conditions is our goal."

The series loss also cost India their No. 1 T20I ranking, with England taking over. Worse, if India don't stay Asia's top-ranked side, they could miss out on qualifying for the LA 2028 Olympics.

"It definitely hurts. But it's great learning for the younger players and me," Iyer admitted. "You can't just expect to win in England; you have to work hard. Everything right now is preparation for the World Cup. The quicker we learn, the better for the team environment."

Next up for Iyer? He'll join the ODI side as Shubman Gill's deputy and bat at No. 4. Later this month, he'll lead the T20I team again on the Zimbabwe tour. The lessons from England will travel with him.