IND vs NZ 2021: He Likes To Take His Time Initially - Robin Uthappa Felt Shreyas Iyer Was Played Out Of Position As A Finisher In First T20I

Senior India cricketer Robin Uthappa observed that Shreyas Iyer didn’t look comfortable in the role of a finisher during his scratchy 8-ball 5-run innings in the first T20I versus New Zealand in Jaipur.

Iyer came in at number 5, after Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant, in India’s run chase of 165. He struggled for timing against the Kiwi bowlers and eventually holed out in the deep off Tim Southee.

Robin Uthappa asserted that Iyer generally takes some time to get his eye in and settle before teeing off, instead of coming in as a finisher.

“For me, the fact that Shreyas Iyer played in a position that he is not comfortable with kind of just showed up in that innings. He is the kind of batter who likes to take his time a little bit initially and then he gets going. Unfortunately for him, he finds himself in a newish kind of position, where he has to finish a game,” Robin Uthappa told ESPNcricinfo.

Venkatesh Iyer began well: Robin Uthappa

With 9 runs needed off 6 balls, debutant Venkatesh Iyer swatted Daryl Mitchell for a boundary, but got out on the next ball, while playing a reverse scoop. What seemed to be a comfortable chase at one point, turned tricky until Pant took the side over the line.

Robin Uthappa praised Venkatesh Iyer for his first-ball four, and also refrained from criticising the failed reverse-scoop.

“Venkatesh Iyer began well but… That’s how he is, he is going to go in there and try to express himself. But India almost made a meal out of that chase,” the CSK batsman stated.

India have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against the T20 World Cup runner-ups. The second T20I is scheduled for Friday at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.

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