Shreyas receives, and delivers, message at No. 4
NAGPUR: Sunday night would have turned into a big disappointment for Shreyas Iyer had he not got a reprieve. From his shot selection to need for such early aggression—everything would have been questioned.
Iyer’s shot towards point could have ended in a secondball duck. But to his huge relief, Aminul Islam dropped the easy chance. Jolted, Iyer took a step back, gauged the conditions and launched into the Bangladesh attack, marching to his maiden T20I half-century. His 33-ball 62 at No. 4 is likely to help secure his India future.
The 24-year-old Mumbai batsman has been given consistent opportunities since the World Cup and he hasn’t disappointed.
Batting at No. 5, he scored 71 and 65 during the ODI series in the West Indies in August. In the Bangladesh series, he made a 13-ball 22 in New Delhi and a 13-ball 24 not out in Rajkot before the Nagpur fireworks.
Iyer then revealed he had the team management’s backing to take up the challenge of batting at No. 4.
“It has been a really important last few series for me, to set the benchmark at No. 4, which all of us are competing for. For me personally, they (team management) gave me a heads up ‘you’ll be at No. 4, just back yourself and believe in yourself. Even if Kohli and Rohit get out, we need someone to finish the game and bat till the end; that is a No. 4’s role.’ That’s what I was trying to do today and it worked out really well for me.”
The others in contention for spots in the middle-order include KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Sanju Samson. Even young Shubman Gill, prolific in the domestic circuit, could get a look in.
The first two did well in the series decider against Bangladesh on Sunday, which India won by 30 runs to clinch the contest 2-1. While Rahul, who struggled in the first two matches, scored a fifty, Pandey’s blitz at the end helped India score 174/5.
However, Iyer said he isn’t competing with anyone.
“There is a lot of competition going in the team (but) I feel I compete with myself. I don’t want myself to be judged with anyone or when you say that this position is empty in the team. I am really open-minded and can bat at any number.
“I just like to back myself in tough situations and today’s innings showed I can bat under pressure as well. So, it was really important for me as well as the team,” said the Mumbai batsman, who is the Delhi Capitals IPL team skipper.
Iyer hit five sixes, three of them back-to-back off Afif Hossain. He wants to back his instincts and not change his approach.
“The support staff has given me—and all the batsmen—(the freedom) that you need to have that intent when you go in there. If the ball pitches in my area, I’m not going to restrain myself, and (will always) back my instincts,” said Iyer.