Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen strongly criticized Shreyas Iyer’s efficiency within the second Test between India and England in Visakhapatnam, questioning the Indian batter’s drive and dedication to retaining his place within the Test facet. Despite being anticipated to play a extra vital position within the batting line-up within the absence of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja, Iyer managed solely 27 runs off 59 deliveries in an innings stuffed with unconventional approaches in opposition to each spin and tempo.
Iyer’s sudden dismissal occurred within the 51st over of India’s first innings on the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. India was making regular progress underneath Yashasvi Jaiswal’s watch when Iyer’s time within the center was lower quick by Tom Hartley, because of sharp glovework from Ben Foakes. The supply was again of a size exterior off, tempting Iyer right into a lower shot, however the ball skidded low, took an under-edge, and landed within the wicketkeeper’s gloves.
While Iyer walked again upset, Pietersen, expressing his views on Jio Cinema, remarked that this innings would possibly hang-out him when gamers like Virat Kohli make their return, probably jeopardizing his place within the India XI.
“Listen, when Kohli comes back and other guys come back [KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja] and these are the days these boys are going to look back and go, ‘oh why did I not get a hundred? I had the opportunity to get the hundred’. And when you are sloppy like that, getting out doesn’t impress me at all,” he mentioned. “You got to really grab the game by the scruff of its neck and say I am not letting go here. I am afraid to say with Shreyas it all seems a bit too sloppy. Sloppy is the word.”
LMAO
Even spinners are actually bowling bouncers to Shreyas Iyer #ShreyasIyer #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/UffVe8mDS1
Jyotirmay Das (@dasjy0tirmay) February 2, 2024
Shreyas Iyer’s battle in opposition to shorter deliveries has been extensively documented, and England, significantly James Anderson, sought to take advantage of this weak spot by delivering a few overs stuffed with such deliveries, strategically inserting fielders within the deep. Initially making an attempt the pull shot, the Indian batter altered his strategy, shuffling all the way down to the leg facet to flat bat the deliveries by means of the off facet. However, this variation in tactic got here with its fair proportion of dangers. In his first try, he narrowly prevented dragging the ball onto the stumps, offering amusement to the England gamers. (IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Shubman Gill Brutally Trolled After He Fells Prey To James Anderson)
Despite expectations that Iyer would excel in opposition to spinners given his spectacular file in opposition to the variability in Test cricket, he resorted to the same approach when dealing with bowlers like Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, and Joe Root. This strategy left Kevin Pietersen visibly pissed off, and he raised the problem throughout the Tea break on Day 1 of the second Test.
