Former Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar said that if Iyer keeps up his current form, he could be the next big thing in the country.
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Shreyas Iyer solidified his reputation as a reliable middle-order batsman by producing sparkling knocks in difficult conditions. He scored a century on his Test debut against New Zealand in Kanpur last year when his team was in trouble, and then 92 and 67 in the first and second innings against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, when other batters struggled to put bat to ball. Former Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar said that if Iyer keeps up his current form, he could be the next big thing in the country.
“Because anybody who plays the way he did…it is very attractive batting that he has, the shots that he has. He is a good looking young man. So it all points to the fact that in the next six-eight months he could be the next big thing in Indian cricket,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
Iyer batted in a unique way compared to other batters. He chose to attack a rank-turner that put batters to the test on the first day and came within eight runs of a century. The 27-year-old was named player-of-the-match for his twin half-centuries as India clinched the series 2-0 with another big win.
“I saw the batters struggling, so I knew I had to be attacking and put the pressure back on the bowlers. I was batting on 55 when the bowlers came in, and then I added around 40 more runs,” Iyer said after the match. “I could have got out earlier as well, so didn’t worry about the hundred.”
“I have always dreamt about playing Test cricket for India, good feeling to come and contribute, want to keep this going,” he added.
All-round India continued their fine run across formats under new captain Rohit Sharma as they bundled out Sri Lanka to 208 runs in the second innings on Day 3 of the second Test to clinch a massive victory by 238 runs. The victory also helped the hosts register a 2-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka. Resuming the day at 28/1, trailing by 419 runs, Dimuth Karunaratne (107) and Kusal Mendis (57) showed resilience in the early hours to forge a 97-run stand for the latter was sent back by veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Karunaratne, however, led from the front and played a captain’s knock in his stay of 175 deliveries. His innings was laced with a spectacular 15 boundaries as even former India captain Virat Kohli applauded him on reaching a fantastic century under testing conditions.
