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Sunil Gavaskar, the cricket icon, has recently expressed his opinion on the Indian selection committee's approach towards Shreyas Iyer following his challenging performance in the recent Test series against South Africa. Gavaskar advocated for patience with the Mumbai batsman, noting the difficulties faced by many Indian batsmen in the tough conditions of Centurion and Cape Town.
Iyer, who played at the crucial No. 5 position in the two-match Test series, amassed only 41 runs across four innings, averaging 13.67. His individual scores read 31, 6, 0, and 4. Despite hitting the winning runs in the second Test, which concluded in just five sessions, Iyer's struggle against short-pitched deliveries was evident, especially in South Africa's pace-friendly conditions. His difficulties with the extra bounce of the Newlands pitch were also a point of criticism.
Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar threw his support behind Iyer, emphasizing the need for a longer tenure in the team, particularly after a series where most Indian batters, except for Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, failed to make significant contributions. Gavaskar pointed out that it would be unfair to single out Iyer for criticism under these circumstances.
"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," said Gavaskar.
"You cannot point fingers at just one player. So I feel the selection committee will also think that he should probably be given more chances," he added.
Kohli emerged as India's top run-scorer in the series, amassing 173 runs. His standout performance included a fighting 76 in the first Test, where India succumbed to a heavy defeat, and a top-scoring 46 in the first innings at Newlands, amidst a dramatic collapse. Meanwhile, Rahul impressed with a century in India's first innings in Centurion.
With the South Africa series concluded, the focus now shifts to the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting January 25 in Hyderabad. Iyer, looking to rediscover his form, will be keen to make an impact in the home series. While his record on Indian soil has been solid, the young batsman is yet to achieve a half-century outside Asia in Test matches. This upcoming series presents an opportunity for Iyer to address this aspect of his game and prove his mettle in different conditions.
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