Shreyas Iyer Reveals Team India's Plan For Him In Batting Order

Shreyas Iyer now looks the latest man who be tried out at number four by Team India. The team has been trying to find a reliable batsman for the crucial position since 2017 but has not tasted success yet. During this phase, India tried out KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Vijay Shankar and Ambati Rayudu but without much success.

After the World Cup, India gave Shreyas Iyer a chance to bat at number four during the West Indies tour and he made an instant mark. In both the ODIs in West Indies, he scored fifties and shared century-plus stands with skipper Virat Kohli. The Mumbai star further enhanced his reputation by slamming an impressive 62 against Bangladesh in the third T20I on Sunday.

Also Read: Watch: Shreyas Iyer Hits Afif Hossain For Three Consecutive Sixes

His knock came off just 33 balls and contained five sixes as well as three fours. India went on to win the game by 30 runs and clinch the series. Speaking after the game, Shreyas Iyer said he has been given a “heads up” by the Indian team management that he will be the designated No 4 batsman in white-ball format.

“For me personally, they (team management) have given me a heads up that ‘You’ll be there at No.4. So just back yourself and believe in yourself’,” Iyer said.

“It has been a really important last few series for me to set the benchmark at the No. 4 position, which all of us are competing for at the moment,” he added.

Iyer will have to be one of the “finishers” in case team’s top two batsmen skipper Virat Kohli and deputy Rohit Sharma are dismissed cheaply. And the youngster is ready to play that role for the team.

“Even if Kohli and Rohit get out, we need someone to finish the game and bat till the end.’ That is a No. 4’s role. That’s what I was trying to replicate today and it worked out really well for me,” said the 24-year-old.