Shreyas Iyer played another exceptional knock in ODI format scoring a blastering 59(36) which included 9 boundaries and 2 sixes. Shreyas Iyer showed positive intent from the first ball and took on the English bowling attack. It was looking that Shreyas Iyer wanted to show everyone what he can do if he’s given consistent opportunities.
Shreyas Iyer came in to bat when team India was in spot of bother as they slumped 19/2 when both Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal got out cheaply. However Shreyas Iyer went all guns blazing scoring a powerful 50. Although he was dismissed right after that with 113 on the scoreboard.
But one thing that came as a shock to everyone was that Shreyas Iyer was not the first choice in team India’s playing 11 but was included in the 11 at night as Virat Kohli suffered a knee injury.
Shreyas Iyer was planning to watch a movie but got a call from Skipper Rohit Sharma about his inclusion in the playing 11 which made him drop his plan to watch a movie.
This revelation of Shreyas Iyer raised questions on Gautam Gambhir and team management about their planning looking at the past performance of Shreyas Iyer in the 2023 World Cup where he scored 468 runs at an average of over 60.
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra even raised questions about team management’s logic behind not including Shreyas Iyer in the playing 11.
“Trying to wrap my head around the revelation that Iyer wasn’t likely to play if Kohli was fit. He’s the first Indian to score 500+ runs batting at 4 in a World Cup. 2023. How could you bench him?? And if he wasn’t going to play, where was Kohli supposed to bat? At 4? Surely, Gill wasn’t getting pushed to 4,” Chopra posted on X.
Trying to wrap my head around the revelation that Iyer wasn’t likely to play if Kohli was fit.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 6, 2025
He’s the first Indian to score 500+ runs batting at 4 in a World Cup. 2023. How could you bench him??
And if he wasn’t going to play, where was Kohli supposed to bat? At 4? Surely,…
Team India will take on England for the second installment of the series on Sunday in Cuttack.
