Shreyas Iyer in action for Indian cricket team© AFP
Former Indian cricket team fast bowler Zaheer Khan was disappointed with Shreyas Iyer after the batter failed to score big once again during the second Test match against England in Visakhapatnam. The right-hander had a good outing in the Cricket World Cup 2023 but his form in Test cricket has been less than satisfactory. During the second innings, Iyer once again got a good start but was dismissed by Tom Hartley for 29. During his analysis, Zaheer said that Iyer had a chance to score big with England spinners operating in tandem but he ended up wasting a good opportunity to regain his form.
“You need to understand the moments that are important for you and the team, and I feel that was a moment for Shreyas Iyer as well. Anderson had bowled his spell. Only one fast bowler was playing and after that, spin was going to be used,” Zaheer said on Colors Cineplex.
“You have top-class ability to play spin. So, you wasted an opportunity. You lost your wicket while trying to be over-dominant and you might have to pay for it, considering the situation you are talking about,” Zaheer added.
Iyer has not scored a single half-century since December 2022 and Zaheer believes that if he does not perform, the selectors may consider dropping him with KL Rahul and Virat Kohli potentially coming back in the squad for the remaining three Test matches.
“The selectors will sit again and select the team after these two Test matches. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli might come back. So if you have two players coming in, two players will go out of the playing XI as well because they are players who will straightaway take their places in the XI.”
“So if you don’t score runs or don’t show that you are fully ready, that you can understand any situation, show maturity, and contribute for the team, then Gill is definitely ahead in the race and you can say that Shreyas frittered away an opportunity,” Zaheer said.
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