Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons Shreyas Iyer was in complete control during his fine knock of 105 runs off just 90 balls in the second ODI against Australia at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on Sunday.
Iyer was able to hit the ground running and scored his third ODI century. The right-hander showed all the confidence in his knock despite being under the pump for his place in the team.
The Mumbai batter scored 11 fours and three maximums in his fine knock to add more to Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid’s selection headaches.
Before getting injured, Iyer had done a decent job while batting in the middle order and he deserves his chance in the playing XI. Iyer has thus far scored 1753 in 46 ODI matches at an impressive average of 46.13 and he will look to continue the good show in the upcoming World Cup.
“He was under pressure. But the team was convinced that Shreyas is our main player and we are going to stick with him. The way he hit a shot over covers at the start and then played those drives, he was brilliant. He was in total control,” said Chopra on his YouTube Channel.
Iyer added a fine alliance of 200 runs with Shubman Gill, who continued his rich form to score 104 runs. The renowned commentator added Iyer batted like Shubman Gill.
“It was not like there were edges or catches were being dropped. There was nothing of that sort. He batted very well. For some time at the start, it seemed like Shreyas Iyer was Shubman Gill and Shubman Gill is Shreyas Iyer, who is coming back from injury,” Chopra added.
On the other hand, former Delhi player also showered praise on Suryakumar Yadav, who scored a blistering knock of 37-ball 72 to add the finishing touches and took India’s score to 399.
“I am not going to call him Suryakumar Yadav, but Sixer Kumar Yadav. He hits so many sixes. Everyone was saying, go Green. He said we need to go Green near the boundary line. It was an amazing innings. He is a 360-degree player and has validated the management’s decision to back him for the World Cup. This is something to admire,” said Chopra.
The third ODI of the series will be played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot on Wednesday.
