India spin-bowling all-rounder R Ashwin applauded star Indian batter Shreyas Iyer, calling him a standout performer. However, Iyer had a debut ODI World Cup to remember, smashing 500-plus runs and guiding India to their fourth final in the mega tournament. Iyer scored 530 runs in 11 matches, which came at an average of 66.25 while striking at 113.24 in the recently concluded ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. However, he came into the final on the back of two successive tons, becoming just the third Indian after head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma to achieve the feat as well.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “Batting against spin and taking them down is Shreyas’ speciality, and he is a standout performer. Chasing excellence is a rare commodity in sports. If somebody does something unique, people, instead of appreciating it, tell them not to do it,” said Ashwin.

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He also added that Iyer is showing signs of being a champion batter making for India, saying that he worked on his pull shot during the World Cup. Iyer will also join the Indian team as the vice-captain for the final two T20Is of the five-match series against Australia. He also praised India pacer Mohammed Shami for taking the most wickets in the World Cup (24) in only seven matches as well.

“What I love about Shreyas is that he chases excellence; he took a note to master the pull shot and worked on it. He got out on it but look at the number of balls he put away to the boundary. Balls were sent to the mid-wicket region and behind the square, which shows he is ready for that ball. He hit fast bowlers above mid-off, definitely the sign of a champion batter developing for India,” R Ashwin concluded. “There is something in mythology called Midas touch. Like Midas, Shami had the golden touch with him. Whenever he bowled, there was a wicket. I don’t remember how many times as first ball in a spell was a wicket (taking one) in this tournament.”