India great claims 'God' sidelined Virat Kohli to make way for Shreyas Iyer in India ODI XI

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh heaped praise on middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer following his impressive performance in the first ODI against England. Harbhajan Singh stated that Shreyas Iyer’s match-winning knock, played under immense pressure, was only possible due to divine intervention.

India defeated England by four wickets in the first ODI of the series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on February 6. England, batting first, posted a total of 248 runs in 47.4 overs. Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Harshit Rana were the best bowlers for India, each taking three wickets.

Shreyas Iyer's Counter-Attacking Innings Came When India Was Struggling

Shreyas Iyer's counter-attacking innings came when India was struggling at 19/2 in their chase of 249. The right-handed batter quickly turned the game around as they reached 113/2 by the 16th over. Iyer looked in good touch before being dismissed for 59 off 36 deliveries, including two sixes and nine fours.

Apart from Iyer, Shubman Gill (87) and Axar Patel (52) helped India chase down the target in the 39th over. In a surprising revelation after the match, Iyer admitted he wasn't supposed to play if Virat Kohli had been fit. Skipper Rohit Sharma said at the toss that Kohli missed the match due to a knee problem.

The Team Is Currently Trusting Yashasvi More - Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh said that the team management is currently favoring Yashasvi Jaiswal in the playing XI, possibly for the right-left combination at the top. Harbhajan added that the team management wanted to drop Iyer to accommodate Jaiswal in the opening position.

"The team management has selected him in the squad but they had to decide whether they want to go with him or Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top. I think the team is currently trusting Yashasvi more."

"Maybe the management is looking to have a right-left combination up top. This is how the team went. But I think if the management wanted not to play Shreyas, then the only reason was to have Yashasvi Jaiswal up top," Harbhajan Singh told Hindustan Times on the sidelines of ILT20 in Sharjah.

He is the best in his eye and hence, even God felt the same - Harbhajan Singh on Shreyas Iyer

Harbhajan Singh called Shreyas Iyer a proven performer with immense self-belief, adding that his confidence helped him play his match-changing knock. Harbhajan stated that Iyer’s fifty in the first ODI transformed the game and proved the decision to drop him wrong.

"Shreyas is a proven performer. He scored a lot of runs in the World Cup. When a player scores so many runs, he thinks he would get opportunities. He is the best in his eye and hence, even God felt the same."

"He got what no one else thought and what someone else thought for Shreyas, that didn't happen. The player whom you were thinking about dropping, he played such an innings, he made it an one-sided game. The 50 runs he scored, changed the complexion of the game."

Also read: Rohan Jaitley set to replace Devajit Saikia in major BCCI role