Team India batsman Shreyas Iyer has downplayed the fact that three Indian players missed out on hundreds despite coming close to scoring a century against Sri Lanka in Mumbai. Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer missed out on well-deserved centuries after toying with Sri Lanka bowlers for a longer time in middle overs.
In a World Cup encounter on Thursday, India crushed Sri Lanka by 302 runs. Shubman Gill top-scored with a run-a-ball 92, as Virat Kohli added 88 off 94 and Shreyas smashed 82 off 56 to help the Men in Blue post a massive total of 357/8 while batting first.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Shreyas Iyer stated that team goals are the most important thing, even though he acknowledged that the squad speaks about missing out on decades and praised Sri Lanka bowler Dilshan Madhushanka for his brilliant bowling with both new ball and old ball.
“See, this is the stage where you play for the team. You don’t play for your individual performance. We definitely discuss about missing out on centuries or half centuries but going forward, say if we are put in the same situation, I would have to go after the bowlers, right? If I’m batting in the 47th or 48th over, I won’t be thinking,” Shreyas Iyer asserted.
“I was sighting the ball pretty well. It’s just that I missed out on that particular ball. It was a little away from my body and Madhushanka was bowling brilliantly. The way he bowled with the new ball and also, he came in varying his pace, bowling slower ones here and there,” Shreyas Iyer asserted.
Shreyas Iyer bounced back from a few of disappointing scores in the previous games with an aggressive half-century against Sri Lanka today. After Gill left the game in the 31st over, he entered the batting and hammered three fours and six sixes on his way to 82 (56) to help his team score an intimidating total of 357 runs.
The Trainers And The Physios Worked Pretty Hard On Me – Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer expressed his gratitude to the physiotherapists and trainers for helping him get in shape after recovering from the back injury. The No.4 batter came back to the team in the Asia Cup 2023 and impressed everyone with batting against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
“Yes, it was a difficult ride to come out of an injury, especially in terms of fielding. I wasn’t able to move as I used to before. But the trainers and the physios, they worked pretty hard on me, especially in terms of recovering after the games, because 50 overs, it takes a lot of toll on your body,” Shreyas Iyer added.
The Men in Blue’s next game against South Africa, who is now in second position in the competition, will likely be their biggest test to yet in the tournament and the winner of the marquee clash is likely to take the top spot in the points table, which could be crucial in deciding their opponents in the Semifinals.
