Sharduxd,ðx̌ďðxtďf,l Thakur has come out in defence of Shreyas Iyer following India’s disappointing 87-run defeat against New Zealand in the fourth T20I in Auckland. With questions being raised about the Indian captain’s batting form, Thakur believes it would be unfair to judge Iyer based on a handful of performances. He explained that batting in the middle order brings its own challenges, particularly in the fast-paced T20 format.
India entered the fourth T20I having already secured the five-match series. However, New Zealand produced an impressive batting performance on Friday, October 30, posting a massive 259/7. In response, India struggled to maintain the required scoring rate and finished at 172/9, handing the hosts an 87-run victory.
Iyer managed 22 runs off 11 deliveries in the contest. Across his four innings on the New Zealand tour, the Indian skipper has scored only 80 runs, raising concerns about his consistency. However, Thakur believes the responsibility of batting at No. 4 makes Iyer’s role particularly demanding.
ALSO READ: Netizens Call for Marnus Labuschagne’s Retirement After Another Disappointing Performance
Speaking on Sony LIV, the all-rounder explained that a middle-order batter cannot always dictate the tempo of an innings. Unlike openers, who generally have the opportunity to establish the momentum, players coming in at No. 4 or No. 5 must adapt to the situation. “Many times, how you bat depends on the match situation, and at the number he bats, he has to react to the situation. He cannot set the momentum. The momentum gets set by the top three batters, but Shreyas Iyer comes at No. 4, and sometimes at No. 5 if the left-hander is sent in as a tactical call.”
Thakur further pointed out that Iyer must balance several responsibilities once he arrives at the crease. He needs to assess the scoreboard, build his innings, accelerate when required and eventually contribute with aggressive batting during the closing overs. “You have to react based on the situation and the scoreboard. So, it’s not an easy position to bat, and once you get set, you also need death batting. So, it’s a challenge as to how you adapt to the game, set the tempo of your batting, and finish as well. So, he has a lot of responsibility.”
Thakur also highlighted the additional pressure of captaincy. Leading India requires Iyer to make quick decisions while managing his own batting responsibilities. Nevertheless, he backed the skipper’s leadership credentials, pointing to his IPL success with Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings, having won the title with KKR and guided PBKS to the final.
ALSO READ: Subramaniam Badrinath Picks Abhishek Sharma Over Harry Brook As The More Destructive T20 Batter
“On top of that, he is the captain. That’s an added responsibility for him these days. So, the decision-making can be up and down at times. So, he has the captaincy skills, and he is showing that when he is leading the Indian team. Ups and downs keep happening in T20 cricket. You don’t need to judge any batter or bowler much in this format, and Shreyas Iyer too as a captain.”
Thakur’s comments underline his belief that Iyer deserves time and support rather than harsh judgement based on a short run of results.
