Asia Press Agency

Tag: Shreyas Iyer

  • Sunil Gavaskar Defends Iyer’s Performance in South Africa

    Sunil Gavaskar Defends Iyer’s Performance in South Africa

    India’s Test series against South Africa ended in a 1-1 draw, with a mixed performance that left room for assessment, especially in the batting department. While KL Rahul and Virat Kohli showcased commendable performances, other batters, including Shreyas Iyer, faced challenges on tricky pitches. Shreyas Iyer, in particular, struggled, scoring only 41 runs in 4 innings with an average of 13.67. However, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes that focusing solely on Iyer’s performance would be unfair, given the challenging conditions faced by all Indian batters.

     

    Gavaskar pointed out that, apart from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, no other player managed to accumulate significant runs. Considering the collective batting struggle, Gavaskar predicts that the selection committee might be inclined to provide Iyer with more opportunities rather than singling him out for criticism.

     

    “Shreyas Iyer is not the only player who failed because it’s not easy for any batter on these pitches. If you see, barring Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, no one else scored too many runs,” Gavaskar stated during a discussion on Star Sports.

     

    Highlighting the challenges posed by the South African pacers on bouncy pitches, Gavaskar defended Iyer’s performance and suggested that the selection committee could consider the broader context before making decisions about individual players.

     

    The conversation around potential changes for the upcoming Test series against England also surfaced. With Cheteshwar Pujara scoring a double century in the Ranji Trophy and not being part of the South Africa tour, speculation arises about a possible inclusion for the England assignment. Gavaskar indicated that one of the Indian batters might face the axe, and Pujara, given his recent form, could be in contention.

     

    The decision to leave out Ajinkya Rahane for the South Africa tour, despite his impressive stats in SENA countries, has also faced scrutiny. The overall batting performance in South Africa raises questions about potential adjustments and selections for the upcoming series against England.

     

    Gavaskar’s defense of Shreyas Iyer revolves around the collective struggle faced by Indian batters on challenging pitches in South Africa. The discussion hints at the complexities of selection decisions, considering both individual performances and the broader context of the team’s challenges in specific conditions. The upcoming series against England adds another layer of anticipation for potential changes and selections.

  • World Cup: Indian Batsmen Struggle Against Australia

    World Cup: Indian Batsmen Struggle Against Australia

    In a high-stakes clash against arch-rivals Australia in the 2023 ICC Men’s World Cup, India found themselves facing an unexpected and unwelcome challenge. Playing at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, also known as Chepauk, on 8th October, Indian batters endured a forgettable opening match, marked by an unwanted record.

     

    Chasing a modest target of 200 runs set by Australia, India’s top-order crumbled as all three of their openers – Ishan Kishan, captain Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer – were dismissed for a golden duck. This remarkable collapse etched their names in the record books as the first Indian openers to endure such a fate in a men’s One Day International (ODI) match.

     

    To make matters worse, this marked the seventh instance in the history of the men’s ODI World Cup where both of a team’s openers returned to the pavilion with a zero on their scorecards. The last time India witnessed such a dismal performance was back in 2004 during the VB series against Zimbabwe.

     

    The downfall of Indian openers began with Australia’s left-arm pacer, Mitchell Starc, delivering a crucial blow to Ishan Kishan in the fourth delivery of the first over. Kishan’s wicket, secured by Starc, set the tone for India’s early struggles.

     

    The misery continued in the second over when Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s seamer, struck Rohit Sharma’s leg and appealed for an LBW (Leg Before Wicket) decision. Rohit’s attempted defense proved futile as the ball angled in sharply, resulting in him being caught in front of the stumps.

     

    Following Rohit’s dismissal, Shreyas Iyer too fell victim to Hazlewood in the same over, caught by David Warner at short cover. With their top-order dismantled, India found themselves in a precarious position.

     

    Despite the early setbacks, India displayed resilience as both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul managed to secure their half-centuries. At the end of 28 overs, India had reached a score of 116/3, offering a glimmer of hope for a comeback in what had started as a disastrous match.

     

    As the battle against Australia in the 2023 ICC Men’s World Cup continued, Indian fans hoped for a spirited recovery, knowing that their team’s fate in the tournament rested on the performances to come.

  • India Drops Three Catches in Asia Cup Match Against Nepal

    India Drops Three Catches in Asia Cup Match Against Nepal

    In a surprising turn of events during an Asia Cup match between India and Nepal, the Indian cricket team found themselves on the receiving end of criticism after dropping three catches within the first five overs. This lapse in fielding allowed Nepal’s batsmen to capitalize and score runs freely during the initial powerplay.

     

    The first missed opportunity occurred in the sixth delivery of the first over when Shreyas Iyer, positioned at slip, dropped a straightforward chance to dismiss Nepal’s Kushal Bhurtel. The second incident featured Virat Kohli, who was stationed at cover-point but failed to hold onto a catch, offering Nepal’s Aasif Sheikh a reprieve. The third catch was missed by wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan during the fifth over of the match.

     

    Commentator Ravi Shastri didn’t mince his words when expressing his disappointment with the Indian team’s fielding performance during the first powerplay. Shastri, clearly agitated, criticized the Men In Blue on-air, saying, “Sloppy from India, really! This is straightforward. Ample time. No excuse, though, from the keeper’s point of view. This is as straightforward as it can get.”

     

    Despite the fielding lapses, Nepal, who had lost their tournament opener to Pakistan, managed to reach a total of 178-6 in 37.5 overs after being sent in to bat.

     

    The ongoing 50-over tournament serves as a preparation for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. However, inclement weather has played spoilsport, leading organizers to consider a venue change for future matches scheduled in Colombo.

     

    India’s opening match against Pakistan was abandoned due to rain after just one innings. A win or a washout in the match against Nepal would qualify the Indian team for the Super Four stage.

     

    At the time of the rain interruption, Dipendra Singh Airee was batting on 27, while Sompal Kami had scored 11 runs. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja had claimed three wickets earlier in the match, and Aasif Sheikh had made a valuable contribution with 58 runs.

     

    The drop catches during the Nepal encounter served as a stark reminder of the importance of fielding excellence in international cricket and left the Indian team with room for improvement as they strive for success in the Asia Cup and beyond.