Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra praised Team India’s Shreyas Iyer for his outstanding performance on Day 1 of the first Test against Bangladesh on Wednesday, December 14. Iyer showcased his skill, scoring 86 for India. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra applauded the right-handed batter for playing aggressively as well.
Chopra explained: “Many have criticized Shreyas Iyer, pointing out his playing style and short-ball woes. But the bottom line is that he scores runs. His luck prevailed on multiple occasions, with the dropped catch and the bail not falling. He played aggressively today and is a player who knows how to control the game.”
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Notably, Iyer added together a stunning 149-run partnership alongside Cheteshwar Pujara, helping India to steady the ship following a poor start.
“When Pant dons the white jersey, it appears that he has been made for this format. Logically, his playing style is ideally suited to the T20 format. However, that is his weakest format at this point in time. Whereas in Test cricket, he takes the bull by the horns, playing his shots against an attacking field setting. His knock was very important, as it shifted the momentum of the game. You need a Rishabh Pant to put the pressure back on the opposition,” Aakash Chopra shared.
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“India want a left-hander in the middle, which means that Rishabh Pant has to come at No.5. Yes, you will question his shot selection, but that is the question that you’ll always ask. He played a lot of shots, and it is never easy to score run-a-ball in Test cricket, whereas others were finding it difficult to score quickly,” Aakash Chopra concluded.