Former India cricketer Parthiv Patel lavished praise on Shreyas Iyer's knock in the second ODI against Australia at the Adelaide Stadium in Adelaide. Iyer, who was promoted as India's ODI vice-captain before the series, scored 61 runs in 77 balls that helped the side to score 264/9.
Parthiv Patel for Shreyas Iyer's batting
However, India's efforts went in vain as Australia chased down 265 runs with two wickets to spare to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Parthiv, who won two IPL titles featuring for Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, admitted that Iyer came to bat when India were under pressure.
"He came to bat under pressure. We know how Shreyas has been given the vice-captaincy. Considering the rhythm with which he is batting, you want to bat well, and you needed two senior players to stand there," Parthiv Patel said on Star Sports.
"Rohit and Shreyas together added 118 runs. However, the intent was extremely necessary there. If you look at Shreyas, if the ball was full, he was playing square off the wicket, and whenever the length was short, we also saw the pull shot," Parthiv observed.
Rohit and Shreyas batted with that intent: Parthiv Patel
Iyer came to bat when India were 17/2 after Virat Kohli's (0 off 4) wicket. He stitched a 118-run stand alongside opening batter Rohit Sharma to shift the momentum of the game. Pathiv Patel admitted that Rohit and Iyer's stand put Australian bowlers in trouble.
"You need to show the bowlers that you will put them under pressure, that you are looking for runs. Both Rohit and Shreyas batted with that intent, especially when Mitchell Starc came and the bowling was outside the off-stump, there was no hesitation in playing the big shots," he said.
India vs Australia third ODI
After losing the two ODIs by seven and two wickets respectively, India will not take on Australia for the third ODI on October 25 at Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. The Men in Blue will surely look to win the third ODI to save the series whitewash against Australia.