Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu questioned Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy after New Zealand registered a seven-wicket win in the fifth T20I against India at the Seddon Park, Hamilton on Sunday.
New Zealand were 96-2 after 10 overs in the run chase of 192 when Iyer decided to give the ball to Abhishek Sharma, who conceded 13 runs in the solitary over he bowled. Rayudu said this tactic has been used on multiple occasions in the past but it has never worked for the team.
Tim Seifert scored a blistering knock of 93 runs off 50 balls whereas Glenn Phillips scored an unbeaten 65 runs off 38 balls for the Kiwis.
“That tactic has been used, and it has never been good. Maybe in the early phases of T20 cricket it worked, but eventually people are ready when you bring a part-timer on. You want to maximize those six balls as a batter. That is exactly what happened, and it shifts the momentum as well. Obviously, in hindsight, you can say a lot of things, but Shreyas definitely does not have the kind of resources the other captains had in terms of bowlers. Eventually, when Shreyas has confidence in the bowlers that are developing like Prince Yadav, he will operate them very differently,” Ambati Rayudu said on Cricbuzz.
Rayudu also questioned Iyer’s decision to give a straight third over to Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the Powerplay. The Kiwis were 39-1 after five overs but Kumar was taken for 20 runs in the final over of the Powerplay.
“I would have bowled him if a set batter was not around. Tim Seifert had already played two overs against him. So, I would have tried another bowler at that stage. Simply because three overs in a row have been very difficult on bowlers in the past as well. When it comes to Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir, I don’t think they like to relay messages in real time. Shreyas Iyer does not like too many inputs and information. That should change eventually because you need to shift with the times,” Rayudu added.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn’t have a great return to Indian colors as he scalped one wicket at an average of 180 in four games and conceded his runs at an economy rate of 11.25.
