In the ODI World Cup 2023, Shreyas Iyer solved India's long-standing no.4 batting conundrum with a stellar run in the tournament. Iyer scored 530 runs from 11 innings at an average of 66.25 including two centuries and three fifties. His strike rate was impressive at 113.24. However, when head coach Gautam Gambhir took over, Iyer's batting position was experimented with in ODI series against Sri Lanka to accomodate right-left combination in the middle. It did not work for Iyer but ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad announcement, Iyer is ready to bat at any position.
"I'm flexible and ready to bat anywhere in the batting order," Iyer told ESPNCricinfo.
The 30-year-old was asked whether he would be keen to playing the role he played in middle order at the 2023 World Cup alongside KL Rahul again. Iyer said that he and Rahul had a great season but regretted the execution in the final against Australia.
"KL and I, we played that important role in the middle during the World Cup. We had a great season together. It was just the last bit [the final] that we couldn't execute the way we wanted to," he said.
"It will be a proud moment for me if I were to be picked in the Champions Trophy [side] to represent the country," he added.
Iyer's form in Vijay Hazare Trophy
Iyer has been in rich vein of form in domestic cricket. He scored 325 runs from five innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 an average of 325 as he was dismissed only once. He scored two centuries in the ongoing tournament. Also, he has scored at a strike rate of 131.57.
Iyer's numbers since World Cup 2023
Since the ODI World Cup 2023, Iyer has played four ODIs and scored 90 runs from four innings including a half-century against South Africa in December 2023. In Sri Lanka, he batted at no.5 in first and third ODI. In the second ODI, he was pushed down the order to no.6.
Iyer's stats at no.4
The Mumbai batter averages over 50 at no.3 and no.4. At no.4, he has scored 1,397 runs from 33 innings at an average of 51.74 including four centuries and eight fifties. He has batted at no.5 11 timnes and scored 323 runs averaging 29.36.