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Shreyas Iyer silenced critics by smashing Jofra Archer for back-to-back sixes in the first 2025 ODI against England. He scored 59 off 36 balls, helping India to 113-3 after coming in at 19-2.
Snippets from Shreyas Iyer’s brilliant shots in Nagpur. (PC: BCCI)
Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer silenced his critics in some style on Thursday (February 6) by smashing England pacer Jofra Archer for back-to-back sixes on bouncers in the first 2025 ODI between the two teams in Nagpur. He got out after just 36 balls but not before scoring a brilliant 59 with a strike rate of 163.89.
The right-hander came out to bat at his typical position of number four with the score at 19/2 but didn’t shy away from taking on the bowlers. His first boundary came on his third ball, off a flick against Saqib Mahmood. In the next over, Archer started with the short stuff, bringing out a couple of defensive strokes from Iyer.
The fifth ball was short-of-good length at 144.8 clicks outside off and Iyer smashed a pull high over the deep mid-wicket fence. Archer followed it up with a bouncer at 143.4 kph well outside off and the Indian smartly used the pace against him, leaning back and ramping it over the third region.
Watch the video of the shots here:
The short ball has been Iyer’s most popular weakness. He has got out to it quite often but, like with other good batters before him, it has been exaggerated a bit by the media coverage too.
“It’s irritating, especially when it comes from people, who haven’t faced 150 km per hour delivery, advising you to play in a particular way,” Shreyas Iyer said about the issue in a chat with the Indian Express last month. “But I would say it is their opinion. They have all the right to talk, but they can talk between themselves not to the player directly.”
Coming back to the match, Iyer’s wicket left India at a much more comfortable 113-3. Shubman Gill and Axar Patel built on the platform and took the team to a comfortable win.
Iyer would feel much more comfortable in the team with that score. With India replacing the injured Virat Kohli with the talented Yashasvi Jaiswal for this match, there were murmurs that when the former India captain comes back, Iyer’s position could be under threat. Now, Gautam Gambhir has a big headache to deal with for the second ODI on Sunday (February 9).
- Location :
Nagpur, India, India
