Aakash Chopra asserted that Shreyas Iyer’s omission from the final three IND vs ENG Tests was attributed to his batting approach in the second Test.
The Indian selectors had unveiled the squad for the last three Tests on Saturday, February 10. Shreyas, who had amassed 104 runs at an average of 26.00 in the initial two matches, reportedly sat out due to complaints of a stiff back and groin pain.
Chopra speculated that Shreyas might have become available for the final two Tests but believed his batting style, particularly in contrast to Shubman Gill’s, influenced the selectors’ decision not to include him.
He observed Shreyas backing away while facing James Anderson and spinners in the first innings of the second Test, which, according to him, did not reflect well on his technique.
“Reports say that he was available for selection because there are three matches. So even if he wasn’t available for one match, he could have been available for the remaining two matches. So he was available for selection.”
“However, the selectors said that they weren’t going to pick him. Shubman Gill was also in the same boat but he never looked ugly. People said that about Shreyas in the Vizag Test match and what they said wasn’t wrong,” the former India opener added.
Highlighting Shreyas’ lack of a half-century in his last 13 Test innings, Chopra suggested that his inconsistent performance coupled with his approach might have dissuaded the selectors and team management.
“In the Vizag match, he was backing away while playing every short ball. It just does not look nice. If you start playing like that, a question comes for sure why he is playing like that because that just did not look right.”
Chopra emphasized the need for Shreyas to address his technical flaws to excel in Test cricket while expressing confidence in his abilities in white-ball cricket. He concluded by encouraging Shreyas to recover quickly and focus on scoring runs in the Ranji Trophy, noting that the door for a comeback would always be open considering his Test debut century.
“Shreyas Iyer had a very good World Cup. I feel his white-ball cricket is going to remain good. The way he bats, he will continue playing very well, but this problem is going to repeatedly come in Test cricket till he addresses it completely.”
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