Shreyas Iyer scored a 70-ball hundred in the ODI World Cup semifinal against New Zealand. That ton was the fastest ever by a player in a knockout match. One knock of such magnitude should be enough to secure your spot in the team. But it wasn’t. As it turns out, mere months later he’d get axed from the Test side and wasn’t included in the BCCI central contracts.
Feeling the nerves
Shreyas hadn’t donned the Indian jersey since early February. It was only going to be natural that he’d be under pressure when he took the field for the India vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI. The situation itself was tense when he came in. The Men in Blue had lost 3 wickets in the space of 3 overs when the batter walked in.
But batting alongside Virat Kohli calmed his nerves. The duo were scoring briskly, ensuring that the run rate didn’t become an issue. However, Kohli was outdone by Wanindu Hasaranga. A couple of months ago, he would’ve been fazed. His spot in the XI was guaranteed then, but now, nothing is certain.
In the very next over, Shreyas was clean-bowled by Asitha Fernando. The right-arm pacer had gone for 33 runs in his previous four overs, but he managed to get the ball to deck in, and Shreyas was caught lacking. He failed to judge that the ball was coming in, and his feet went nowhere.
Shreyas Iyer’s knock, good or bad?
A 23(23) in a run chase of 231 isn’t here or there. Depending on the outcome, people will judge the innings. But Shreyas looked at home during his stay. Getting a good ball along with pressure to perform upon his Team India return has to be accounted for as well.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has seen the batter in close quarters at the Kolkata Knight Riders and knows his potential. Similarly, captain Rohit Sharma has seen him blossom over the years, and the two men in charge are expected to back him for the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI and beyond.
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