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Shreyas Iyer struck a quickfire fifty and later revealed he wasn’t supposed to play in the first ODI against England in Nagpur.
Shreyas Iyer struck 9 fours and two sixes. (BCCI Photo)
Shreyas Iyer produced an entertaining innings on his return to international cricket as he clobbered nine fours and two sixes in his 36-ball 59 to help India beat England by four wickets in the first ODI on Thursday. Iyer was batting with intent, almost as if he had a point to prove, as he belted back-to-back sixes off England speedster Jofra Archer at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
He walked in to bat when India were jolted after losing both their openers – Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma – in the space of eight deliveries. The hosts were 19/2 in 5.2 overs when Iyer made his entry and when he exited, the scorecard read 113/3 in 16 overs.
Later, Iyer revealed how he wasn’t in India’s original playing XI for the contest and only made the cut after a spot opened up late in the night when Virat Kohli complained of a sore knee.
Iyer was watching a movie when captain Rohit gave him a call to inform him about his inclusion. The middle-order batter then had to cut short his movie night.
The revelation has raised some difficult questions for the Indian team management given Iyer’s past performances in ODIs, especially during the 2023 ODI World Cup when he scored 530 runs at an average of 66.25 and a strike-rate of 113.25.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra says he’s still not able to understand the logic behind benching Iyer since Kohli anyway bats at no. 3 in ODIs.
“Trying to wrap my head around the revelation that Iyer wasn’t likely to play if Kohli was fit. He’s the first Indian to score 500+ runs batting at 4 in a World Cup. 2023. How could you bench him?? And if he wasn’t going to play, where was Kohli supposed to bat? At 4? Surely, Gill wasn’t getting pushed to 4,” Chopra posted on X.
Trying to wrap my head around the revelation that Iyer wasn’t likely to play if Kohli was fit.He’s the first Indian to score 500+ runs batting at 4 in a World Cup. 2023. How could you bench him??And if he wasn’t going to play, where was Kohli supposed to bat? At 4? Surely,…— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 6, 2025
The second ODI of the three-match series will be held in Cuttack on Sunday.
- Location :
Nagpur, India, India
