India’s batter Shreyas Iyer surprised everyone as he came forth and said something in a post-match conversation on Thursday with broadcasters. He said that his inclusion into the playing XI did not happen on his own as initially he wasn’t considered, and he actually found himself part of the Nagpur game after Virat Kohli’s injury meant he sat out the contest.
Shreyas Iyer Was Dropped Initially
“I wasn’t supposed to play the first game. As we all know, Virat unfortunately got injured and then I got the opportunity. But I had kept myself prepared. I knew that, you know, at any point in time, I could get a chance to play. And the same thing happened to me last year during the Asia Cup. I got injured, and someone else came, and he scored a century,” Shreyas Iyer told Star Sports
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Shreyas Iyer Played Because Virat Kohli Was Injured
“It’s actually a funny story. I was watching the movie last night. I thought that I could extend my nighttime. Then I got a call from the skipper saying that I may play because Virat has got a swollen knee, and I hurried back to my room and went off to sleep straight. So we didn’t know that.”
Shreyas Iyer’s Confession Leaves Pietersen & Parthiv Stunned
On Thursday, he proved his worth again by coming out with a counter-attacking knock of 59 runs off just 36 balls to help India recover from a disastrous start in the powerplay. During a chat with former cricketers Kevin Pietersen and Parthiv Patel, Iyer smiled and reflected on the shift in his mindset, from not expecting to play to then making a crucial match-winning performance. Parthiv, himself still puzzled at Iyer’s initial exclusion, speculated that debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal was probably the direct replacement for Kohli in the playing XI.
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Shreyas Iyer In ODI
Since the last few seasons, Iyer has been an important player at No. 4 for India in ODIs and solved the long-standing issue that India had in that position during the 2019 World Cup. His efforts in the 2023 series have further cemented his importance as he scored 530 runs at an average of 66.25 and a strike rate of 113.24. He has emerged as India’s most successful No. 4 batter in a World Cup campaign with two centuries and three fifties.
