Australian legend Ricky Ponting has expressed shock over Shreyas Iyer‘s inconsistent presence in India’s white-ball cricket crew, regardless of his distinctive efficiency and skill to deal with spinners on sluggish subcontinental wickets.
Iyer performed an important function in India’s journey to the 2023 World Cup last, accumulating 530 runs and ending because the seventh-highest run-scorer. He not too long ago demonstrated his abilities with a fast 59 runs off 36 balls towards England within the first ODI at Nagpur.
The 30-year-old has maintained his sturdy kind in home cricket, scoring two centuries for Mumbai within the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
“I have been somewhat bit shocked that he is been out of India’s facet within the final couple of years. He had a terrific World Cup again in India (2023) the place he performed superbly within the middle-order and I really felt then that he’d nearly cemented that spot and made that his personal,” opined Ponting on ICC Assessment.
“Then he had these couple of accidents, clearly injured his again and went out of the facet, however his home season this 12 months has been sensible.”
“It type of coincided with what he is executed since round (IPL) public sale time going ahead in home cricket, he has been just about excellent,” mentioned Ponting in regards to the right-hand batter, who guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title final 12 months after lacking the 2023 version because of a critical again damage.
Ponting believes Iyer will excel within the upcoming Champions Trophy, scheduled to start in Pakistan and Dubai on February 19.
“He is acquired the sport that can stand as much as the white-ball codecs, particularly in that a part of the world,” Ponting mentioned.
“On these wickets — the slower, decrease wickets — he is dynamic on these. We all know how good a hitter of spin bowling he’s and groups have a tendency to not bowl lots of spin at India, however at some stage it may come.”
Because the Punjab Kings coach, Ponting secured Iyer for Rs 26.75 crore for the upcoming IPL season. He expressed his satisfaction with having Iyer within the crew as they intention for his or her first title.
“If Shreyas is out within the center, then he is pretty much as good as anybody. So, I am delighted to see him again within the crew.”
