Indian veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik believes the team management will need to play Shreyas Iyer in the middle order and the right-hander should get his opportunities in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
Iyer had made an impressive start to his Test career as he scored a fine hundred on debut against New Zealand at Kanpur.
Subsequently, he had backed it with another vital knock of fifty in the second innings. Iyer scored a total of 202 runs in the two-match Test series against the Kiwis but he did not get his opportunities against South Africa.
On the other hand, Iyer has been in sublime form in the recent past. The 27-year old batter from Mumbai scored 204 runs in three T20Is against Sri Lanka. In fact, Iyer remained unbeaten throughout the series and returned with scores of 57, 74, and 73. Ergo, he was awarded the Player of the series. Iyer will look to continue the good show in the Test matches.
“For me, one name that stands out is Shreyas Iyer. I think you cannot look past him. He has got a hundred on his debut and he has been fabulous,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to note who will the team management back between Shubman Gill and Hanuma Vihari. Gill hasn’t played a lot in the recent past due to injury whereas Vihari has done well whenever he has been given the opportunity in the middle order.
“There are two ways to put it. If you’re looking at a 7-4 combination (seven batters, four bowlers), then probably you will see a Shubman Gill batting at 3 with Vihari at 6 and Rishabh Pant to follow (Iyer at 5). But if they’re looking at a 6-5 combination and they are going to play three fast bowlers, then it will be a toss-up between Vihari and Gill for number three. Other than that, it is pretty straightforward in terms of the XI,” said Karthik.
On the other hand, former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan believes Shubman Gill will get his chance in the final XI in the first Test against Sri Lanka.
“They would want to stick with the five-bowler combination. That’s something which has been working for India and they haven’t moved away from that. Shubman Gill is coming back now, I think he will get a chance again,” said Zaheer.
The first Test match will begin on Friday in Mohali.
