Shreyas Iyer, The India batsman has a preferred style of play, and he is resolute about staying true to it.
Shreyas Iyer, known for his aggressive style, is determined to play attacking cricket regardless of the match situation. Making a return to the Ranji Trophy after a five-year hiatus to prepare for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, Iyer showcased his form with a brisk 48 runs in Mumbai’s 10-wicket victory over Andhra at home.
Batting at No. 5 during his only chance in the game, Iyer faced challenges from the Andhra quicks who employed a “negative” strategy by bowling around the wicket and delivering short-pitched balls. However, Iyer remained unfazed, confidently executing flicks on full deliveries, pulls on short ones, and predominantly scoring 75% of his runs on the leg side, with just one of his seven fours coming on the off side.
Following Mumbai’s win, Iyer expressed his commitment to an attacking mindset, even in the face of defensive bowling strategies. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the negative tactics but emphasized his determination to play strokes and take his team forward.
Regarding the short-pitched deliveries, Iyer, pleased with his performance, affirmed his preference for an aggressive approach. His impressive strike rates in ODIs (101.27) and T20Is (136.12) reflect his attacking style, a tactic he extends to first-class matches, maintaining a strike rate of 78.63, albeit reducing to 65.34 in Tests. Iyer’s aggressive game may prove crucial against spinners in the upcoming Test series between India and England.
Despite the BKC Ground in Mumbai not offering a turning track, Iyer expressed contentment with his progress, having endured a recurring back injury in 2023. His return to action in September and notable contributions during the ODI World Cup showcased his resilience and form.
“It wasn’t exactly a turning track, to be honest,” he remarked. “I assume we’ll encounter turning wickets against England. However, aside from that, my primary focus was on match fitness and staying on the field as long as possible. Especially after my injury, it has been challenging for me to endure extended periods on the outfield. So, this was excellent practice for me.”
Choosing to return to domestic cricket because he wasn’t selected for the ongoing home series against Afghanistan, which serves as India’s final T20 games before the World Cup in June, Iyer isn’t overly concerned about his absence from the national team. He is concentrating on the immediate future.
“Currently, I’m living in the present,” he asserted regarding being dropped from the T20I side. “I’ve completed the match I was asked to play, executed my role, and I’m content with what I’ve done. Things beyond my control are not worth focusing on. My focus was on coming here, winning the match, and that’s precisely what we achieved today.
“Taking one match at a time is crucial; there’s no need to think about the five-match Test series. The team is selected only for the first two games. The objective is to perform well in those initial matches and then plan for the subsequent games.”
Following scores of 0, 4*, 31, and 6 in the South Africa Tests, where both matches concluded in under three days, Iyer might contend for a middle-order spot with KL Rahul if India opts for a specialist wicketkeeper due to the challenges of keeping to spinners on turning tracks.
“I just need to focus on the three days,” he quipped. “The last two Test matches we played in South Africa finished in three days. The third day is always crucial, so my attention is on those three days, and the fourth and fifth will follow if necessary.”
Addressing the competition for places in the Indian middle order, Iyer welcomed it, stating, “I love competition. When there’s competition, you face more challenges, and that’s something I thrive on personally. I enjoy having competition around because it pushes you to perform against each other and also against opponents to showcase your talent and skills.”
To conclude his day on the field, Iyer spent a couple of hours batting on the center BKC pitch with his coach Pravin Amre, even as the other players left the ground.
Having played 12 Tests since his promising debut with a century and half-century against New Zealand in November 2021, Iyer has added four more half-centuries to his record, averaging 39.27 from 20 innings.