Irani Cup: Shreyas Iyer smashes fifty after Test snub
Indian batter Shreyas Iyer slammed a vital fifty for Mumbai against Rest of India in the 2024 Irani Cup in Lucknow. Mumbai, who were invited to bat, slumped to 37/3 before Iyer and skipper Ajinkya Rahane added a century stand. While Rahane showed resistance, Iyer scored an 84-ball 57. The latter bounced back in red-ball cricket after being excluded for the Bangladesh Test series.
A counter-attacking knock from Iyer
Mumbai lost Prithvi Shaw, Hardik Tamore, and Ayush Mhatre quite early in the match on a wicket tinged with grass. However, Iyer and Rahane steadied the ship with a solid partnership. The duo took Mumbai past 130, with Iyer launching a counter-attack. He smashed 6 fours and 2 sixes in his 57-run knock. However, Yash Dayal ended his stay shortly after lunch.
Return to red-ball cricket
As mentioned, Iyer has responded to his exclusion from the Test squad with a sturdy knock. The batter last played for India in an ODI against Sri Lanka. He also led India D in the Duleep Trophy. The ongoing match is a pivotal opportunity for him to earn his spot back in the Indian team for future international assignments.
Iyer averaged 25.66 in Duleep Trophy
Iyer's performance in the 2024 Duleep Trophy was less than impressive, as he scored only 154 runs at 25.66 across six innings. This also included two ducks and as many half-centuries. A BCCI official recently expressed disappointment at Iyer's performance, stating that there is currently no place for him in the Test team due to his poor shot selection during the tournament.
