Shreyas Iyer was not looking to play in the first ODI against England, nor was he looking to make a match-defining knock. He had settled in for a relaxed evening, watching a movie and contemplating “extending his night,” when an unexpected call from captain Rohit Sharma changed everything. Virat Kohli had suffered a swollen knee, and Iyer was needed in the playing XI. Without hesitation, he switched gears, heading straight to bed to rest up for the challenge ahead.

By the time he walked out to bat in Nagpur, India had been rocked early, losing both openers at 19 for two while chasing 249. But instead of letting the pressure mount, Iyer counterattacked with flair, smashing a whirlwind 59 off 36 balls, laced with two sixes and nine fours. His innings steadied India and took the wind out of England’s bowling attack.

Reflecting on his surprising selection, Shreyas Iyer candidly said, “I wasn’t supposed to play the first game. But I always kept myself prepared, knowing that an opportunity could come anytime.” He drew parallels to the 2023 Asia Cup, where he had missed games owing to injury, allowing someone else to step in and make an impact.

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Now the roles were reversed, and he was determined to seize the chance. Although he has long faced criticism for giving IPL a go over domestic cricket, it is only now that he credits the skills sharpened in the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. “Playing domestic cricket taught me a lot about approach, mindset, and attitude. You need to keep evolving, and I feel I’ve checked all the right boxes in terms of preparation and fitness,” he added.

But a highlight of the innings was that he went into Jofra Archer’s over with that typical fearless attitude about express pace. He casually dispatched a short ball over mid-wicket for a six before upper-cutting an outswinger over third man for another.

Shreyas Iyer said, “I wasn’t supposed to play today. Virat Kohli unfortunately got injured, I got the opportunity”. pic.twitter.com/0qclUE42qO

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 6, 2025

Talking about this perception of Shreyas Iyer that he is weak to short-pitched bowling, the batsman replied, “I haven’t changed my technique. Against bowlers hitting 140-145 km/h, you use the crease, play with the pace, and find the gaps. That was my mindset. Iyer admitted that domestic cricket doesn’t always throw up such high-quality pace, so net sessions with side-arm throwers have become crucial for his preparation. “We ask our side-arm specialists to bowl bodyline deliveries to simulate match scenarios, and I’m glad I could execute my plans well today.”

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Interestingly, India had thought they were going to be in for a much stiffer chase given England’s aggressive start. “The way they began, we thought we’d be chasing above 350,”Shreyas Iyer revealed. “They were executing their shots brilliantly, and we know how England play their cricket.” But then India’s bowlers turned it around pretty impressively, restricting England to a manageable total of 248.

Iyer didn’t just shine with the bat—he also made a telling impact in the field. His bullet throw from midwicket caught a well-set Phil Salt short of his crease, providing India with a crucial breakthrough. “I just attacked the ball. It wasn’t a planned run-out, just instinct taking over,” he said.

This match-winning display not only reinforced the argument for Iyer’s long-term position at No. 4 but also reminded everyone why he remains a key asset in India’s ODI lineup.