‘Flexibility’, ‘Competition’ and ‘Challenges’ Remain the Keywords as Shreyas Iyer Silences Number 4 Debate – News18

Shreyas Iyer has had a difficult few weeks ever since he made his comeback after a lengthy layoff due to his back surgery. Having played against Pakistan and Nepal in the Asia Cup group games, the star batter was sidelined with back spasms which kept him out of India’s playing XI for the remainder of the tournament.

After an unlucky dismissal in the first ODI against Australia in Mohali, Shreyas has made his claim for the number 4 spot, having rejected the number 3 spot outright saying that it belongs only to Virat Kohli.

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“Virat Kohli is one of the greats, there’s no chance of stealing that (number 3) spot from him. I just need to keep scoring wherever I bat,” Iyer told the broadcasters in the post-match presentation ceremony.

When quizzed about his favoured spot between the number 4 and the number position, Iyer took a leaf out of Rohit Sharma’s notebook, saying that he’s ‘flexible’ the same term the Indian captain used when he was asked about the batting order and the changing personnel in the months leading up to the World Cup.

The 28-year-old also talked about his fitness in the post-match press conference, the injury setback, how he recovered from it, and why he was attended to by the physios after smashing a century in Indore on Sunday.

On injury setback and recovery

“It was a rollercoaster ride. I’ve been working so hard the last few months, and I was in a lonely space. Excited to be back and I am enjoying the atmosphere in the dressing room. I was seeing matches on TV and wanted to be out there. I had belief in myself. I knew what I was aiming for and glad I was able to execute my plans today.”

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On Australia’s performances in the ODIs

“See we know how the Australian team is in person, the way they plan their stuff I’m sure they are playing this as a practice match. They want to build momentum going forward into the World Cup, so they’re experimenting and they’re giving chances to a lot of players to see how the conditions are in India.

They play challenging cricket, I’m sure they would be planning pretty well in future matches against India and when I come in to bat, so I’m never going to take them lightly because they can hurt you at times.”

On his partnership with Shubman Gill

“Yes, absolutely it was one of my finest innings, especially coming out on injury where I was early waiting to come and perform for the team. Shubman Gill, he’s been in tremendous form lately, the way he’s been converting the starts into big runs and I’m happy as a teammate because going forward into the World Cup we would need such starts and he’s in a great mind space and the routines he’s been maintaining, travelling, recovering it’s been terrific to see.”

On his fitness, caught and bowled dismissal

“I am okay because I fielded thirty overs after that but I was getting serious cramps, I wasn’t able to hold my grip even the caught and bowled happened, the time he (Sean Abott) delivered the ball my hand got stuck and I played with my bottom hand, also the umpire gave me an indication that you won’t be able to call the physios again. I was a bit anxious at the time, didn’t know what to do, my mind was a little bit down in the dumps and I told myself this is the time to get into the beast mode and see whatever you get from here on.”

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On his favoured batting position

“See the management hasn’t told me that I would be batting at this particular number, I’m flexible at whatever number I would be getting to bat. Whatever team requires at that point of time, if I have to go lower down the order I’m up for that, if I have to go up the order same.

But see, there’s competition but that’s the best part about being in the team, you come and represent the Indian team, you know that there would be challenges and as a professional I can’t complain about that. All I can say is that I would embrace the opportunity that I would be getting in the future and I’ll leave no stone unturned.”