IND vs SL: It Was More Like A Djokovic Or Federer Forehand: Sunil Gavaskar Talks About Shreyas Iyer's Classic Shots

Former Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar said Indian batter Shreyas Iyer’s 44-ball 74* against Sri Lanka in the second T20I was unbelievable.

Iyer took the responsibility for India’s 184-run chase on his shoulders after both openers Rohit Sharma (1) and Ishan Kishan (16) were back in the dugout inside the Powerplay overs.

Shreyas Iyer scores back to back fifties against Sri Lanka

Iyer smashed Sri Lanka left-arm pacer Bindua Fernando for three consecutive boundaries in the fifth over before tonking a couple of sixes straight down the ground to Praveen Jayawickrama in the ninth over.  Shreyas played an animated shot, a tennis forehand smash, to Chamika Karunaratne for a six to complete his second fifty in the series.

Shreyas Iyer was playing with the full face of the bat as much as possible: Sunil Gavaskar 

Gavaskar said that Iyer was very much confident while playing his shots and describe one of his shots in the similar ranks of Tennis stalwarts Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic’s sublime forehand.

“What Shreyas Iyer has shown in this innings is the cleverness of his batting. The way he was moving away when there was no deep third man and hitting the ball over, the way he was moving towards the offside and clipping the ball to the onside.

“That shows a batsman who is supremely confident of himself and the skill he possesses.  Gavaskar said on Star Sports. 

“The first thing he did was hit that straight drive for a boundary. After that it was…even if he was lofting the ball, he was doing it in the ‘V’. So less chances of being caught because fielders are on either side of the sightscreen.

“So basically, play as straight as possible and even if the ball does anything it will have an inside or outside edge. Iyer was playing with the full face of the bat as much as possible except for the odd occasions.

“He was unbelievable. It was more like a Djokovic or a Federer forehand,” said the former India captain,” the former Indian player added. 

Iyer was relieved of the task to take India to the finishing line after he was joined by all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja at the crease at the end of the 13th over. Jadeja hammered 45 off 18 including seven fours and a six to Dushmantha Chameera in the 16th over.

The all-rounder’s quickfire knock helped India seal the T20I series 2-0 with one game left, the final T20I will be played on Sunday at the same venue.

Also Read: IND vs SL: Partnership With Sanju Samson Was Crucial: Shreyas Iyer Post 2nd T20I Win