IND vs WI: Playing For India Not In My Hands, Have To Maximise Opportunities: Shreyas Iyer

Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer stated that he is not considering his position in the Indian ODI team and that he is instead concentrated on working hard off the field and making the most of any possibilities that present themselves.

Shreyas Iyer most definitely is, as the great batsman has contributed to India’s victories in the current ODI series against the West Indies in Port of Spain with two significant fifty-sixes. 

Since making his ODI debut in 2017, Shreyas Iyer has participated in 29 matches, but the Kolkata Knight Riders captain has struggled to secure a spot in the team. Iyer was able to play in just one of the three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against England earlier this month because Virat Kohli has been a consistent No. 3 batsman. 

I Have To Maximize My Opportunities: Shreyas Iyer

But Shreyas Iyer has taken advantage of the chance to bat at No. 3 without Kohli. In the first ODI, Iyer and skipper Shikhar Dhawan formed a key combination that helped India score 308, and on Sunday, Iyer and Sanju Samson helped India maintain their composure after losing fast wickets in a successful chase of 312. 

In his 99-run partnership with Samson, Shreyas Iyer scored 63 runs off 71 deliveries, setting up Axar Patel to enter and give India the victory. In just 35 deliveries, Axar scored 64 runs as India finished the chase in the last over. 

“Playing in the team is not in my hand. What I can do is train hard off the field and see to it that you know whenever I get the opportunity, I have to maximise it, and that’s what I have been doing, Today (Sunday) and the day before yesterday, I got the opportunity to represent my country that I feel is bigger than anything.

I gave my 100 percent, and when I left the field, I had no regrets,” Shreyas Iyer told the press on Sunday in Port of Spain. 

“Hard work off the field always pays off. This is the reflection of what you do off the field. I am working hard because wickets and conditions are changing frequently, and you have to stay fit and keep motivating yourself. My mindset is that I will do my work and try to control the controllable.” 

Shreyas Iyer Enjoying Batting At NO.3

Shreyas Iyer extended his impressive run in the 50-over game format by scoring fifty or more for the third time in a row against the West Indies in ODIs.

Iyer won’t likely replace Virat Kohli when the former captain returns from vacation, but he didn’t hold back from declaring his affection for the No. 3 position. 

“It is a fun position to bat at, and I really enjoy it. It is one of the best positions to bat because you go into a very tough situation if the wicket falls in early. You go in and you have to see the new ball and then build your innings. 

“Also if the openers have got into a really good partnership, then you have to go carry forward that momentum, take it on from where they have left and see to it that the run rate is maintained,” he added. 

Shreyas Iyer Disappointed To Miss Out On Big Scoring Opportunity

Iyer acknowledged that the two ODIs offered him chances to continue and score a century for India, but he insisted that he was pleased to have contributed to the team’s match-winning performances. 

At the second ODI on Sunday in Port of Spain, Iyer was defeated by an Alzarri Joseph yorker after being caught at cover for 54 in the first ODI. 

“I was really happy to get to what score I got today. But I was unhappy with the way I got dismissed. I thought that I could have taken the team through easily and set up the total, but I was very unfortunate with the way I got out. Hopefully, I will be able to score a century in the next one,” Shreyas Iyer added. 

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