India batter Shreyas Iyer discussed his aggressive mindset in high-pressure situations, exemplified during the Champions Trophy win over Pakistan, where he scored 56 runs and supported Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century. Iyer emphasized the importance of taking on bowlers to gain momentum and ultimately stabilize the innings. He acknowledged the match’s intensity, praising Kohli for his performance, and addressed concerns about skipper Rohit Sharma and pacer Mohammed Shami’s fitness, stating they were fine. Iyer also credited the Indian spinners for effectively containing Pakistan’s scoring during the middle overs, highlighting their skill and experience on a spinner-friendly pitch.
Offering insights into his approach during intense moments, Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer expressed that he prefers to be aggressive in order to “steady the ship,” a strategy he effectively showcased during the Champions Trophy victory over arch-rivals Pakistan after a cautious start. Iyer’s 56 off 67 was a crucial supporting contribution to Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century as India successfully chased down a target of 242 runs with over seven overs to spare on Sunday night. This win has placed Pakistan on the verge of elimination and brought India closer to a semifinal spot.
“I enjoy taking on the bowlers when we find ourselves in a challenging position. That’s my mindset. If we take control and gain momentum, it becomes easier to steady the ship,” Iyer stated at the post-match press conference.
“From that point, the other batsmen who come in find it easier.” He anticipated that India could have completed the chase in significantly less time than the 42.3 overs utilized for their six-wicket victory.
“I believe we could have finished a bit earlier and achieved a more convincing win based on how the wicket behaved. Initially, the new ball was effective, but as the ball aged, scoring runs became challenging,” he remarked.
“Had we played with a bit more aggression, we could have secured the win sooner, I felt,” he added.
Nonetheless, Iyer described India’s victory as “sweet” due to its nature involving a formidable opponent and the ability to overcome considerable “external pressures.”
“I haven’t participated in many matches in Pakistan, so I am unsure how it would feel. However, it’s a neutral venue posing a challenge for both teams. Any win against Pakistan is special because they are always competitive,” Iyer shared with reporters.
“It’s a challenge, and there are various external pressures as well. It was a lot of fun. This was my third game in Pakistan,” he continued, although he did not clarify what he meant by external pressures.
Having formed a significant 114-run partnership with Kohli for the third wicket, Iyer praised his senior teammate for his fluent century. This marked Kohli’s 51st ODI century, during which he also crossed the 14,000-run milestone in the format.
“I’ve never considered Virat to be struggling for runs. He always has a strong desire to score. I recall yesterday he arrived almost an hour early for the practice session, and after playing a few balls, he looked focused from the sidelines,” the 30-year-old remarked.
“He appeared as sharp as always. Therefore, I never feel that he is struggling for runs,” he added.
No Injury Concerns for Shami, Rohit ================= The Mumbaikar also eased concerns regarding injuries to skipper Rohit Sharma and seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami, both of whom were unable to field during the early stages of Pakistan’s innings.
“…I had a quick chat with them, and they both seemed quite comfortable with how things unfolded. From what I know, I don’t believe there are any issues,” he stated.
‘Adaptability is Key’ =============== Iyer played a nuanced innings, prioritizing singles at first before unleashing his attacks on the Pakistani bowlers. He explained his approach.
“It’s clear that you can’t play sweeps and reverse sweeps right away. Rotating the strike is crucial because it places considerable pressure on the bowlers.
“They constantly adjust their line lengths, and by consistently taking singles, you increase the pressure on the bowlers, allowing you to keep the scoreboard ticking,” he added.
Iyer also commended the Indian spinners for effectively containing the Pakistan batsmen during the middle overs.
“They bowled exceptionally well, especially during the middle phase when the ball was turning. As we’ve observed in previous matches here, the wicket tends to play a bit slow.
“It’s spin-friendly, and the consistent performance of all three bowlers, along with their experience, contributes greatly to their clarity in bowling,” he expressed. PTI SR/UNG AH PM PM PM
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