Former Indian batter Kris Srikkanth has lavished praise on Shreyas Iyer after India registered an eight-wicket win against the West Indies in the opening T20I at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday. India was reeling at 35-2 but Iyer scored a blistering knock of 102 runs off just 43 balls as he batted at the top of his game in the run-chase of 172.
The right-hander was able to hit the ground running and batted at the top of his game. Iyer completed his fifty off just 28 balls and then changed gears as he raced from 50 to 100 off just 14 balls. This is Iyer’s maiden T20I century, which would give him a lot of confidence, according to Srikkanth. The Indian skipper was awarded Player of the Match for his superb batting performance.
Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “This knock will give tremendous confidence to Iyer as a batter and captain. This happened to Gill. Once he started scoring in Tests and ODIs, he was able to stamp his authority on the field. The same thing will happen to Shreyas Iyer in T20Is going forward. India will start doing very well under him from now.”
“His century is not just important for him but also for Team India in the big picture. Because as a captain, he hadn’t stamped his authority yet. He hadn’t scored anything big in the last 10 innings. Shreyas’ off-side shots and range are incredible and effortless. He had so much time because he was playing the ball late.”
On the other hand, Srikkanth highlighted that Ishan Kishan played a docile knock as he scored an unbeaten knock of 37 runs off 27 balls. Kishan added 137 runs off 67 balls with Iyer, who did the bulk of the scoring.
“It was a crucial partnership as India lost two quick wickets. India would have been in trouble if they lost two more wickets. Both of them played the ball late. Ishan Kishan supported Iyer very well by giving him more strike. Kishan played a docile knock and didn’t play his usual knock. It wasn’t a flamboyant knock,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
The second T20I between India and the West Indies will be played at Ranchi on Friday.
