Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar hailed star batters Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer for their match-winning knock in the first ODI of the three-match series which was being played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, on February 6 (Thursday). Shreyas Iyer played a knock of 59 runs off 36 balls, which also included 9 fours and 2 sixes, coming after India had lost both openers within the first six overs. Due to Kohli's injury, Gill took over as the star batter's regular position and led the run chase with an incredible 87 off 95 balls.
Sanjay Manjrekar on Shreyas Iyer
Manjrekar praised Iyer's knock and called it his best inning. He called the way he played his shots flawless. However, Iyer revealed that he wasn't originally in the starting XI and only learned late at night that he would be playing, replacing the injured Virat Kohli. This turned out in his favour as the batter played a crucial knock.
"I know it's just 58 for now. But that has to be Shreyas Iyer's best innings! Because of the sheer flawless nature of stroke play, the range of shots played & the relative orthodoxy of all his shots. On quality it was 10/10," Manjrekar wrote on X.
Manjrekar on Shubman Gill
Majrekar called Shubman Gill a 'Lambi race ka Ghoda' to say that he is someone who will be around in the Indian team for a long time. Shubman Gill was awarded Player of the Match for his knock.
"We had a term in the team ‘Lambi race ka Ghoda’ for certain players. Meaning someone who will be around for a long time in Indian cricket. That’s what Shubman Gill is!" Manjrekar wrote on X.
India bowled out England on 248 runs with Harshit Rana and Ravindra Jadeja taking three wickets each. Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell smashed crucial fifties to help their team reach a respectable total. India lost their openers quickly in a 249-run chase. However, Gill and Iyer steadied the ship by smashing fifties. Later Axar also smashed a half-century. However, Gill missed the chance to score a century as he got out on 87 runs.
India and England will now be competing against each other in the second ODI which will take place in Cuttack, on February 9 (Sunday).