“So God forbid if Virat Kohli gets injured… ” – Sanjay Bangar named Kohli’s replacement

Shreyas Iyer, the right-hand batter was dropped in the first T20I against West Indies. Iyer has contributed in the middle order most of the time whenever he got an opportunity. The 27-year-old was out of action for a few months after the shoulder injury. After the injury, Shreyas was not part of India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2021, UAE.

Sanjay Bangar, the former Indian batting coach gave some clarity on Shreyas Iyer’s role in the team during a recent talk with the broadcasters Star network.

Here’s what Sanjay Bangar said

“The bench is getting strong. The position at which Shreyas is being sent to bat, he is being continuously sent at No. 3. So God forbid if Virat Kohli gets injured in some match, I feel he can become a very good option at No. 3 and that is probably where the team management’s sights are set on Shreyas Iyer.”

Here’s what Irfan Pathan said

“This guy has the swag. When this boy is in form, it is enjoyable to watch. With the big shots, he plays. He doesn’t stay at one spot but despite that, the balance he generates, is his own ability, I like the non-looker six he hits the most. The two sixes he hit off the slower ones – one-off Karunaratne and later off Chameera. He answered the critics with his bat, you don’t need to answer with your tongue. If we expect Shreyas Iyer to bat always at a strike rate of around 160, that’s not going to happen, he is a different batter,”

Here’s what the Indian captain Rohit Sharma said about not having Shreyas Iyer in the playing 11 :

“Someone like Shreyas Iyer is sitting out. Very hard on him to be out and not make it to the XI, but it’s what the team requires. We need that option in the middle, someone who can bowl.”

“A lot of things go into deciding the playing XI, the opposition, the conditions, the dimensions of the ground. Yes, sometimes it can be tough for the guys missing out but we are making sure we are giving out a very clear message. Unfortunate but we want to put the team,”

The 27-year-old has found it difficult to get a place in the 11 as Suryakumar Yadav has cemented his place with consistency and Venkatesh Iyer, the all-around player, provides an extra dimension to the team.