In the wake of Shreyas Iyer’s less-than-impressive outings in the Test series against South Africa, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has come forward with a strong stance. Little master is expecting the selectors to provide the middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer with an extended run in Test cricket.
During the two-Test series against the Proteas, Shreyas Iyer struggled, mustering only 41 runs at a disappointing average of 13.67. Despite a notable 31-run contribution in the first innings of the first Test, he faced dismissals for six and a duck in subsequent outings. However, he made a crucial impact in the second innings of the Cape Town Test, smashing the winning runs.
Sunil Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports, defended Shreyas Iyer, asserting that the blame for India’s below-par batting performances in South Africa cannot be placed solely on the young batsman. He emphasized that apart from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, no other visiting player made significant batting contributions:
“Shreyas Iyer is not the only player who failed because it’s not easy for any batter on these pitches. If you see, barring Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, no one else scored too many runs.”
Shreyas Iyer needs longer rope
Gavaskar went on to express his belief that the selection committee would consider offering Shreyas Iyer more opportunities, highlighting the collective struggle of the team rather than singling out one player for criticism.
In a separate discussion on Star Sports, cricket analyst Sanjay Manjrekar shed light on Shreyas Iyer’s challenges on seamer-friendly surfaces. He pointed out the batter’s struggles against both full and short deliveries, indicating that he needs to work on these aspects to thrive on foreign pitches.
Manjrekar acknowledged the difficulties faced by Shreyas, explaining that without a solid defensive game, the batsman is forced to adopt a riskier approach to score runs. This, in turn, results in inconsistency, as the aggressive style of play can lead to both brilliant knocks and less successful outings.
Shreyas Iyer, with 707 runs at an average of 39.27 in 12 Tests, has demonstrated his prowess in subcontinent conditions. However, he has faced challenges in foreign conditions, managing only 34 runs in two innings in England before the South African tour. Despite these hurdles, Gavaskar’s endorsement of patience aligns with the hope that Shreyas will find his footing and deliver more consistently on the international stage.
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