New Delhi: While watching a movie and considering “extending his night,” Shreyas Iyer received a call from India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, informing him that he would be replacing Virat Kohli in the first ODI against England. Iyer then brought his recent domestic circuit experience into play, scoring his 19th ODI fifty and playing a key role in India’s chase on Thursday. Iyer came to the crease with India reeling at 19 for two, chasing a target of 249. He responded with a remarkable counter-attack, smashing two sixes and nine fours to score 59 off just 36 balls, taking the momentum away from England.
“So, it’s a funny story. I was watching a movie last night and thought I could extend my night, but then I got a call from the skipper saying that I might play because Virat has got a swollen knee,” Iyer shared with Star Sports.
“And then I hurried back to my room, went straight to sleep… I’m going to keep it low-key and just cherish this moment, the victory,” Iyer added. “I wasn’t supposed to play the first game, but Virat unfortunately got injured, and then I got the opportunity. However, I kept myself prepared, knowing that at any point in time, I could get a chance to play,” he said.
Iyer continued, “The same thing happened with me last year as well during the Asia Cup. I got injured, and someone else came in and scored a century.” Reflecting on his journey, Iyer, who had faced criticism in the past for prioritizing the IPL over domestic cricket, credited his recent experiences for both his fitness and form. He acknowledged how the last year had played a significant role in his development as a player, helping him stay in top shape and perform at his best.
“To be honest, I played throughout the domestic season, and it taught me a lot. It gave me a decent idea about how to approach my innings, the attitude I need to maintain, and it’s just the mindset that has improved over time,” he said.
“Also, from a skills perspective, you need to keep upgrading yourself, elevating, and learning constantly. I think I ticked all the boxes and, importantly, my fitness played a significant role,” Iyer added.
While watching a movie and considering “extending his night,” Shreyas Iyer received a call from India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, informing him that he would be replacing Virat Kohli in the first ODI against England. Iyer then drew upon his recent domestic circuit experience to score his 19th ODI fifty, playing a crucial role in India’s chase on Thursday. He came to the crease with India in a precarious position at 19 for two, chasing a target of 249. Iyer responded with a remarkable counter-attack, smashing two sixes and nine fours to score 59 off 36 balls, effectively deflating England’s momentum.
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