'It's a great problem to have': Sunil Gavaskar talks about Indian batting order

Indian batter Shreyas Iyer had a terrific outing in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka and his good show has now created a headache for the selectors. It is important to mention that former India skipper Virat Kohli and batsman Suryakumar Yadav did not take part in the T20I series against Sri Lanka.

And while talking about this, former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar said that “it's a great problem to have.”

Gavaskar speaks

“It's a great problem to have. Obviously Virat Kohli can't be replaced. He will probably come in at No.3, there is no question about it. But then you can use somebody like a Shreyas Iyer at No.4 or 5. Suryakumar, the way he has been batting, he is got to be included. It is just the plus, plus as far as the team is concerned,” Gavaskar was quoted while talking to the host broadcaster.

While talking about Indian batting order, the former Indian skipper feels that “there are so many options” and this helps in allowing a team to have “pure bowlers and not bowlers who can bat.”

“There are so many options. And it allows you to go in with pure bowlers and not bowlers who can bat. With a top-batting line-up, you can go in with someone like Mohammed Siraj or Avesh Khan, who is not known as a batsman. You don't have to look for someone who can bat like Shardul Thakur or Deepak Chahar or Bhuvneshwar Kumar. You might think in terms of all-out attack,” the 72-year-old former Indian batsman explained.

Iyer's stunning show

In the recently concluded T20I series, Iyer exhibited superb batting skills to score three consecutive fifties. More importantly, throughout the series, the Mumbai-born batsman remained not out as not a single Sri Lanka bowler could manage to claim his wicket once in the three-match T20I series.

In the third and final T20I match of the series, played in Dharamsala, the visitors registered a total of 146 runs losing 5 wickets in 20 overs.

In reply, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team needed 16.5 overs to successfully chase the target. Iyer played a terrific match-winning innings of 73 runs (not out) off 45 balls. His innings was comprised of nine boundaries and one six.

In the penultimate match of the series, Iyer notched a match-winning 74 off 44 balls to help his side in claiming a 7-wicket victory.

In the first T20I match of the series, played in Lucknow, Iyer had scored 57 (not out) off 28 balls to help the Indian team in reaching a solid total of 199 runs.