In a space of 40 days and 9 innings, Yuvraj Singh has gone from criticising and questioning the place of Shreyas Iyer in the Indian team to becoming a fan of Iyer’s fearlessness.
Shreyas Iyer impressed Yuvraj Singh so much that the India number 4 batter got labelled as the best Yuvraj gave the credit of India’s victory in the semi-final against New Zealand to Iyer even more than Virat Kohli.
In the World Cup 2023 semi-final against New Zealand, Shreyas Iyer cracked 105 runs in 70 balls, while Virat Kohli scored 117 runs in 113 balls as India piled up 397 on the board, and won by 70 runs after Mohammed Shami took a 7-wicket haul.
Yuvraj Singh credited Iyer for helping India reach such a massive total at the Wankhede, hailing his fearlessness as Iyer walloped 8 sixes in his sizzling knock.
“Virat Kohli is probably the one of the greatest of all time, but the reason India posted such a big total in the Semis was Shreyas Iyer. He’s batted fearlessly,” Yuvraj Singh said on Aaj Tak.
Not too long ago, Yuvraj was the one questioning Iyer’s place at number 4 after his dismissal for a duck in the first game against Australia. Iyer tried to hit Hazlewood through covers but was caught.
After Iyer’s dismissal for a duck against Australia, Yuvraj had tweeted “The number 4 batsman has to absorb the pressure! We need better thinking from @ShreyasIyer15 when the team is trying to rebuild their innings! I still don’t understand why @klrahul is not batting at number 4″
Shreyas Iyer is the biggest game changer for me: Gautam Gambhir
Another member of the 2011 World Cup winning team who has heaped rich praises on Iyer is Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir said Iyer has been the biggest game-changer in the middle-overs for India in the World Cup.
Iyer has scored 526 runs at an average of 75 and a strike rate of 113 – simply outstanding numbers. His tournament, though, seemed to have gone under the shadow of Rohit and Kohli.
Gambhir backed Iyer to play a crucial role for India in the final against Australia and take down Zampa and Maxwell.
“Shreyas Iyer is the biggest game changer for me in this World Cup. He was injured and had to fight for his place, and to score a century in 70 balls in the knockout is simply outstanding. He’ll be the key for India in the final when Maxwell and Zampa bowl,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
In 9 innings in the World Cup, Iyer has been dismissed by a spinner only once. He has scored 229 runs against spinners at a strike rate of 102.
