Shreyas Iyer credits flexible batting position in India A for his success at the No.4 spot

Shreyas Iyer– what is the first thing that comes to mind when one hears or reads his name? Talent? Temperament? Both? The current Indian No.4 is an amalgamation of both facets tuned to its zenith. India had been grappling with their middle-order for 2-3 years as to who should bat at the coveted No.4 spot.

In the past six months, Shreyas- through sheer consistency and a truckload of runs- has made that No.4 spot as his own. Since making a return to the side during the tour of West Indies back in August, Iyer has racked up 424 runs in nine innings at an average of 53 and a strike-rate of 104.95 with four half-centuries and a hundred. 

The hundred that he got came in the first ODI in Hamilton and according to Iyer, the secret behind his success at the No.4 spot is because of his flexible batting positions between No.3 and 5 for India A, something that has allowed him to learn the art of manovering the cricket ball and tackling different match situations.

Shreyas Iyer scored a pristine century in Hamilton

“In India A, it’s not that I have to bat number four all the time. You keep changing your position depending on what is the situation. I got to manoeuvre my place from 3 to 5, I kept changing (batting order). It’s just that we get good practice there and you face different opposition as well so you get used to the atmosphere,” Iyer attributed his new-found success to his stint with A team as quoted by CricketNext.

He added, “India A games are always been helpful for me personally because whenever I used to go there, I used to make sure that as many matches I got, I have to make the best use of it and the players and the atmosphere is also amazing. You literally have no pressure,” Iyer said about the team which is mentored by NCA director Rahul Dravid.

Since then, India tried the likes of Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Ambati Rayudu and Rishabh Pant in the middle-order but with minimal returns. But for Iyer, spending time on India A tours was a great learning curve.

Iyer scored a pristine century in Hamilton to help his side post 347 in 50 overs. But his inning went in vain as New Zealand overhauled the target thanks to counter-attacking half-century by Tom Latham and an unbeaten hundred by Ross Taylor.

“I am very happy but would have been happier if we could have finished the game on a winning note. First, of many (centuries), I hope, so I would take this in my stride and try to make sure that next time, I finish on the winning side,” Iyer said at the post-match press conference.

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