Shreyas Iyer, the Mumbaikar was a man of the series in India’s last T20 series against Sri Lanka. The middle-order batsman scored 3 fifties in 3 matches and remained unbeaten in all three innings. Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian cricketer has backed Virat Kohli heavily during a chat with broadcasters Star. Virat Kohli is irreplaceable, says Gavaskar. The former Indian opener thinks it is a plus-plus situation for the Indian team.
Here’s what Sunil Gavaskar said about Virat Kohli
“It’s a great problem to have. Obviously, Virat Kohli can’t be replaced. He will probably come in at No.3, there is no question about it. But then you can use somebody like a Shreyas Iyer at No.4 or 5. Suryakumar, the way he has been batting, he is got to be included. It is just the plus, plus as far as the team is concerned.”
“There are so many options. And it allows you to go in with pure bowlers and not bowlers who can bat. With a top-batting line-up, you can go in with someone like Mohammed Siraj or Avesh Khan, who is not known as a batsman. You don’t have to look for someone who can bat like Shardul Thakur or Deepak Chahar or Bhuvneshwar Kumar. You might think in terms of all-out attack,”
Shreyas Iyer, the right-hand batter was out of action for a few months due to Shoulder Injury. The Mumbaikar made his comeback in the second part of IPL. He scored runs in the IPL but was not picked for the T20 World Cup 2021. Suryakumar Yadav, the other Mumbaikar was given preference.
After that Iyer had to sit out in many matches including the series against West Indies. Suryakumar Yadav was ruled out of the series against Sri Lanka due to a hairline injury.
Hence, Shreyas Iyer got the opportunity and he took it with both hands and was named as the player of the series.
Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper about Shreyas Iyer (During West Indies series) :
“Someone like Shreyas Iyer is sitting out, very hard on him to be out and not making it to the XI, but it’s what the team requires. We need that option in the middle, someone who can bowl.”