Zaheer Khan in awe of Shreyas Iyer after Nagpur heroics; says this about the Indian batter

Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan has showered rich praise on Shreyas Iyer for his spectacular knock that turned the tide of the game during the Men in Blue’s four-wicket victory over England in the opening game of the ongoing three-match ODI series in Nagpur.

Iyer came to bat at a crucial moment when India had already lost both openers—Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma—early in their 257-run chase. However, the Mumbai batter’s fearless approach turned out to be a game-changer for the Men in Blue against India.

Zaheer Khan praises Shreyas Iyer’s fearless batting against England in Nagpur

Shreyas Iyer played a stunning knock of 59 runs off 36 balls laced with nine boundaries and two sixes, as well as stitching a crucial 94-run partnership with Shubman Gill (87 runs off 96 balls) and helping the Indian cricket team recover from 19/2 in the first ODI against England.

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Zaheer Khan was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz, “You talk about everything in that knock. The counterattack was just a brilliant inning to watch. At that stage in the game, when the ball is hard, you have already lost two wickets; someone to walk in like that and with such confidence and take the attack to the opposition is something that worked really well.”

Shreyas Iyer really set the tone for the run chase: Zaheer Khan

Zaheer hailed Iyer for his stunning counterattack that rattled the England cricket team and set the perfect tone for India's run chase. The former Indian pacer also feels Iyer’s partnership with Shubman Gill was the backbone of India’s successful chase after a poor start, as it ensured India stayed on track despite the pitch becoming tricky and offering sharp turns towards the end.

The LSG bowling coach further noted, “Really set the tone for that run chase because we've seen later on how the pitch was turning, how it became a little tricky towards the end. By then, all the work was done. So, Shubman and Shreyas's partnership, and Shreyas has been that key component in that partnership.”

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Notably, Shreyas Iyer has been on a journey to prove himself after losing his BCCI central contract for prioritizing his fitness over domestic cricket. The right-handed batter enjoyed great success in domestic cricket last year and earned a place in India’s ODI squad for the ongoing home series against England and the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Virat Kohli unfortunately got injured, and then I got the opportunity: Shreyas Iyer

Returning to the national fold after six months, Iyer silenced critics with a powerful performance against England in Nagpur. His brilliant innings showed exactly what he's capable of and justified his selection. Notably, the second ODI will be played in Cuttack on February 9.

Earlier, Iyer revealed that he was not originally part of India’s XI for the first ODI in Nagpur. He was quoted as saying by Star Sports, “So, funny story. I was watching a movie last night. I thought I could extend my night, but then I got a call from the skipper saying that you may play because Virat has a swollen knee.

And then (I) hurried back to my room and went off to sleep straight away. I wasn't supposed to play the first game; Virat unfortunately got injured, and then I got the opportunity.”