Shreyas Iyer can not only counterattack but can weather an early storm as well. India’s number four once again proved why he is leaps and bounds ahead of every other middle-order option with another splendid half-century, this time against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday, March 2. Iyer, who was coming on the back of a solid 56 against Pakistan, consolidated when India lost all three of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli when the scoreboard only read 30 in 6.4 overs.
Shreyas Iyer saves India after early setbacks
Shreyas Iyer then saved India from further hiccups alongside Axar Patel as the two stitched a match-saving partnership for the fourth wicket. The left-and-right-hand combination worked wonders for India as the two first put breaks on the Kiwi bowlers before starting to accumulate runs off bad deliveries. The two added 98 off 136 balls. Incredibly for Iyer, he hit four boundaries in his fifty runs, three of which came in just one over of Will O’Rourke. At 75 balls, this was his slowest fifty in ODI cricket!
22nd ODI FIFTY for Shreyas Iyer
— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) March 2, 2025#ChampionsTrophy2025 #ShreyasIyer #NZvIND #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/0uJNwTWGS2
Despite the early seam movement that the Kiwi pacers were able to generate, Iyer found his rhythm by settling in. He initially played a lot of dot balls, contrasting to his natural play before opening up against spinners. Iyer maneuvered himself, especially against Mitchell Santner, a negative matchup for Iyer. But Iyer negotiated his threat superbly, hammering his 12th fifty at number four.
Iyer looked destined for his hundred as he offered attack following his fifty. He hit two sixes after his halfcentury, one to Rachin Ravindra and the other to O’Rourke. KL Rahul joined Iyer in the middle post Axar’s wicket. However, in an attempt to pull one off O’Rourke, Iyer skied one straight to Will Young at short mid-wicket. The 30-year-old made 79 off 98 balls.
Shreyas Iyer record against NZ in ODIs
- 103, 52, 62, 80, 49, 33, 105, 79
- Average: 70.37
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