(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] India batter Shreyas Iyer shared insight into his attacking 48-run innings in the Ranji Trophy 2024 match between Mumbai and Andra Pradesh.
Iyer returned to the domestic circuit as he gears up for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting January 25 in Hyderabad. He batted at the No.3 position for Mumbai, which is also his slot in the India Test line-up, and scored run-a-ball 48, decorated with seven boundaries.
Talking about his knock after the match, Iyer shared that the Andhra bowlers bowled defensively to him but it did not bother him much as he anyways was aggressive in his intent.
“I’m
going to play attacking irrespective of the situation. And also when you bowl negative, when you bowl safe and
defensive at the start, you want to score runs and you need to take your
team through up to a certain point. So that was my mindset and that’s
why stuck with. Yeah, I was happy [with my knock] irrespective of the
score,” Iyer said as quoted.
I said, they were bowling defensive and they didn’t let me play to my
strengths. Even though they started with the short balls, I was able to
execute them for boundaries and get a lot of runs out of it. Again, they
were bowling negative so there was literally no scope to…other than
leaving the ball I couldn’t have done much. I knew that leaving the ball
would, to be honest, bore me. I would rather go and play some strokes.
That’s what I considered at that point of time,” he added.
would be getting turning wickets against England. But other than that,
it was just for my match fitness, to stay on the field as long as
possible, that’s what mainly I was focusing on because especially after
my injury it has been tough for me to stick on the outfield for long. So
this was great practice for me.”
came, and I executed, so I’m happy with what I’m doing. Something that
is not in my control, I can’t be focusing on that. Coming here and
winning the match was my focus and that’s what we did today,” Iyer stated.