Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was impressed by how India batter Shreyas Iyer batted in the second ODI against England. England won by four wickets and bounced back after India’s win in the first game. Shreyas Iyer scored 66 runs off 71 balls with five boundaries and two maximums. He also added a 67-run stand with Virat Kohli for the fourth wicket. Kohli also scored a sublime fifty, making 65 runs off 66 balls with eight boundaries as well.

“I feel Shreyas Iyer’s batting was class. If someone is batting in partnership with Virat, it is very difficult to say someone else batted better than Virat Kohli. In this case, Shreyas was looking nipped and tucked with Virat. Brilliant batting and such a welcome sign for Indian cricket,” Ashwin said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.

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“Why do we call Virat a great in the 50-over format? Because he estimates the par score really well. When his wicket fell, it became very difficult for a slightly inexperienced Indian batting line-up. I don’t know about Sundar’s injury, but I feel him, Dube, and Axar could not cling on. Virat’s wicket was very important on this pitch. Not everyone can play here. If India had made 250-260, it may have been a last-over finish for England,” he added.

Ravichandran Ashwin also applauded India captain Shubman Gill for his knock in the second ODI as well. While Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer scored fifties, Gill did well at the top, giving India a good start in the powerplay as well. Gill made 31 runs off 30 balls with six boundaries in his knock.

“I want to praise Shubman Gill. Yes, Kohli batted well. But apart from that, when Gill was batting, he looked completely different. There was not one ball that he missed. He looks in really good touch, and that is a big positive for India. The ball that he got out to was also unlucky. Most days that would have gone screaming through covers for four,” he concluded.