Shreyas Iyer fails to impress in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2015

A tally of 930 runs at an average of 71.53 and a strike rate of 95.48 from 8 matches, with 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries and 200 being the individual best, the 21-year old, Shreyas Santosh Iyer, had ‘set the stage on fire’ at the end of the league stage in the Ranji Trophy 2015-16 tournament.

With 99 fours and 22 sixes, 528 runs (56.77%) of his runs have come by way of big hits. Though he has done exceedingly well in the longer format, Iyer’s outing in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2015, in the league stage has not been as impressive as it was expected to be.

Playing for Mumbai and having featured in 6 games, he has been able to score only 222 runs at an average of 37.00 with 84 as his best. He has just one half-century to his credit in the tournament thus far. Iyer has a strike rate of 101.36.

For someone who is known for his explosive batting and being compared to none other than Virender Sehwag, the numbers clearly are not justifiable. He is currently at the 32nd position in the table of ‘most run-getters’ in Vijay Hazare Trophy as compared to his numero uno position in the identical table of Ranji Trophy 2015-16.

The final league game for both Mumbai and Hyderabad was played against each other on December 18, 2015, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad. On winning the toss, Hyderabad, led by Hanuma Vihari, opted to bat. Backed by a well made 95 runs (158m, 104b, 7 fours, 1 six) by the skipper, who, very narrowly missed his maiden List A century in his 30th match (28th innings), and his sixth-wicket partnership of 77 runs in 11.5 overs (at 6.50 RPO) with Javeed Ali, who remained unbeaten on 44* runs off 44 deliveries, helped Hyderabad put on a score of 217 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 50 overs.

Decent bowling performance by Mumbai pacers, Shardul Thakur (8-0-33-2) and Rohan Raje (10-1-48-2) also exercised restraint on the Hyderabad batsmen. Chasing a target of 218 runs in 50 overs, Mumbai put on 222 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 44.2 overs.

Chasing a target of 218 runs in 50 overs, Mumbai put on 222 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 44.2 overs. A huge partnership between one of the openers, Akhil Herwadkar and Shreyas Iyer, worth 134 runs in 25.5 overs (at 5.18 RPO) set the tone for Mumbai, after losing the other opener, wicketkeeper-skipper, Aditya Tare (12) with just 37 runs on the board in 8 overs.

The consolidation act by Herwadkar and Iyer proved very useful for Mumbai who went on to win the encounter by 7 wickets. Herwadkar ended up scoring 85 runs with the help of 7 fours at a strike rate of 69.67, facing 122 deliveries in 152 minutes.

Iyer recorded his highest List A score for the season, scoring 84 runs, aided by 4 fours and 4 sixes, at a-run-a-ball, in an innings that lasted 90 minutes. Shreyas’ other knocks in the tournament, this season, have been 10 (Punjab), 44 (Tamil Nadu), 49 (Assam), 35 (Services), and 0 (Rajasthan).

Mumbai, being placed in the third position, behind Tamil Nadu and Punjab, in the Group A Points Table with 16 points from 6 games (4 wins 2 loss), NRR +0.866, fail to qualify to the knockout round and have completed their tournament engagement for the season.

Iyer, who is looked upon as a bright prospect to don the national colours, sooner than later, needs to adapt himself to the shorter version, as well as he has been performing in Ranji Trophy.

With the T20I World Cup at the doorstep, Iyer would do well if he can showcase his performance in the shorter version also and attract the attention of the national selectors.