Shreyas Iyer Had Got The Starts, But Couldn’t Convert It Into Big Innings - Aakash Chopra

Former India opener, Aakash Chopra has lamented the form of Shreyas Iyer in the IPL and in the limited-overs matches against Australia. Iyer scored 59 runs in the 3 ODIs. He was dropped for the first T20I, and then came in place of the injured Manish Pandey, who scored just 2 runs.

Iyer played a crucial of 12 from 5 balls in the second T20I but was dismissed for a duck in the third. That Sanju Samson played at the number 5 position in all the three T20Is tells us that Iyer is yet to lock his position in the shortest format for team India.

He wasn’t able to live up to the expectations: Aakash Chopra

Although Shreyas Iyer accumulated 519 runs in the IPL 2020 in the UAE and led the Delhi Capitals to their maiden final, he wasn’t at his best; Iyer struggled with timing – having a strike rate of 123 – and couldn’t clear the ropes as he often does- 16 sixes in 17 innings supports the statement.

Aakash Chopra opined that the Indian team needs batsmen in the middle-order who can score quickly. While Sanju Samson doesn’t have many runs to his name in the T20I series, he scored those at a strike rate of 143 and showed the much talked about intent by attacking the Aussie bowlers in the middle-overs. Chopra believes that Iyer would be disappointed with his performances in Australia as he couldn’t perform up to what was expected of him, especially in ODIs.

Speaking to Cricbuzz, Aakash Chopra said, “It’s important that around Kohli, there are players who can score quickly. Sanju Samson will look behind this series and as will Shreyas Iyer, because at the end of the day, Iyer had been given opportunities – be it ODIs or T20Is. He came into this series with a reputation but he wasn’t able to live up to the expectations. I think he will be very disappointed.”

The 43-year-old feels that the Delhi Capitals skipper has fared well in the past – in home matches and against New Zealand earlier in the year – but on this tour, Iyer wasn’t able to convert his starts into a significant score.

Aakash Chopra pointed out that the 26-year-old is vulnerable against short pitch bowling and should improve on his weakness sooner before doubts creep in about his place in the eleven.

“He is the captain of the Delhi Capitals and had performed well also earlier but the series was stop-start for him. Also, whenever he got the start, he couldn’t convert it into big innings. First, he got out to a bouncer and then when he was playing well, he couldn’t play the long innings. When that happens, the questions will be asked,” Aakash Chopra added.

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