After patiently waiting to cement his place in the Indian side, Shreyas Iyer is making sure that he gives such kind of performances that nobody could question his place in the playing XI. Even when India has an experienced player like KL Rahul in the team, the youngster is given the chance to bat at number four while Rahul goes out to bat at number 5.
The right-hand batsman has played 6 innings at number four and amassed 284 runs at an average of 57. He has 2 half-centuries to his name and scored his maiden ODI century against New Zealand in the first ODI in Hamilton.
Shedding a light on his performance, Iyer revealed the secret behind his success while batting in the middle-order. The batsman revealed that he used to bat in the middle-order for India A team and the position kept on changing after every 3-4 games. He further stated that playing with India A has helped him a lot to bat effortlessly in the middle-order.
“In India A, it is not that I have to bat number four all the time. You keep changing your position depending on what is the situation. I got to maneuver my place from three to five, I kept changing (batting order). It is just that we get good practice there and you face different opposition as well so you get used to the atmosphere,” Iyer said.
The skipper of Delhi Capitals further added that the games he played with India A have always helped him grow and better his technique. The pressure is much less there but you still have to make the best use of all the chances that are given to you.
“India A games are always been helpful for me personally because whenever I used to go there, I used to make sure that as many matches I got, I have to make the best use of it. You literally have no pressure,” Iyer told the reporters after the first ODI.
Shreyas Iyer played a superb knock of 103 off just 107 balls to take his team to a gigantic total of 347 in the first game. But his efforts went in vain as Ross Taylor’s hundred turned out to be even bigger. Taylor and some much-needed assistance from Henry Nicholls and Tom Latham chased down 348 with 11 balls to spare.
The second ODI will take place on February 8 in Auckland.
