IND vs ENG: Zaheer Khan praises Shreyas Iyer’s fearless knock
Xtra Time Web Desk: Former India pacer Zaheer Khan heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer for his confident and aggressive innings in India’s ODI series opener against England in Nagpur. Iyer’s explosive 59 off 36 balls played a pivotal role in India’s successful chase of 257, setting a strong foundation for their preparations ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.
After losing openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma early, India needed stability in the middle order. Shubman Gill’s composed 87 and Shreyas Iyer’s fearless 59 revived the innings, guiding India to a comfortable victory. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Zaheer Khan highlighted Iyer’s self-belief and counterattacking approach, which proved crucial in setting the tone for the chase.
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"You talk about everything in that knock. The counterattack was just a brilliant inning to watch. At that stage in the game, when the ball is hard, you have already lost two wickets, someone to walk in like that and with such confidence, and taking the attack to the opposition is something which worked really well. Really set the tone for that run-chase because we've seen later on how the pitch was turning, how it became a little tricky towards the end. By then, all the work was done. So Shubman and Shreyas's partnership, and Shreyas has been that key component in that partnership," Zaheer said.
Iyer, who recently lost his BCCI central contract for prioritizing personal fitness over domestic cricket, has been on a redemption path. His impactful innings against England served as a timely reminder of his potential, silencing doubts about his place in India’s ODI setup. His consistency has earned him a spot in India’s 15-member Champions Trophy squad.
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Batting at a strike rate of 163.89, Iyer smashed nine boundaries and two sixes, taking on England’s bowlers with confidence. His fearless approach not only helped India recover from an early collapse but also ensured they chased down the target with four wickets to spare.
India’s victory in Nagpur marked a strong start to the series, boosting their preparations for the Champions Trophy. With the second ODI scheduled for Cuttack on February 9, India will aim to maintain their momentum and build a formidable squad for the upcoming ICC event.
