Former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad has questioned Team India’s playing XI selection for the first T20I against West Indies. The visitors included Shreyas Iyer at number three in the team in place of Virat Kohli, who is on a break. The decision was criticized by many fans on social media. India eventually won the match by 68 runs at the Brian Lara Stadium on Friday, July 29 in Trinidad.
Apart from Shreyas Iyer, India also had in-form batter Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson in the ranks. Hooda has probably been in the form of his life for India off-late. In the absence of senior players, he has grabbed his opportunities with both hands so far this year. Deepak averages 68.33 in six T20Is this year, scoring 205 runs at a strike rate of 172.26. His run tally includes a century against Ireland last month.
Taking to Twitter, Venkatesh Prasad questioned India’s selection. He expressed that some of the decisions are right, as the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 is around the corner. However, he termed, selecting Shreyas Iyer ahead of Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda as “bizarre”. Prasad tweeted,
“Some of the selection calls keeping the upcoming World T20 in mind are worth pondering. Shreyas Iyer in T20 cricket when you have Sanju Samson, Hooda and Ishan Kishan in the team is bizarre. With Virat, Rohit, and Rahul definite starters, need to work on getting the right balance.”
Some of the selection calls keeping the upcoming World T20 in mind are worth pondering. Shreyas Iyer in T20 cricket when you have Sanju Samson, Hooda and Ishan Kishan in the team is bizarre. With Virat, Rohit and Rahul definite starters ,need to work on getting right balance.
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) July 29, 2022
Shreyas will have to work hard on his skills for T20: Venkatesh Prasad
Shreyas Iyer was dismissed for a duck in the first T20I match. He was caught by Akeal Hosein as he tried to flick a pitched-up delivery through mid-wicket. However, the angle took him across as the ball took the edge and went low towards Hosein. The West Indies cricketer dived across to complete the catch.
Replying to Venkatesh Prasad’s tweet, a fan stated that Shreyas Iyer has done well in the past and has just been unlucky. In 43 T20Is, the Indian batter has scored 931 runs at an average of 33.25 and a strike rate of 137.92, including six fifties. The former India cricketer wrote in response,
“He is good in 50 over cricket. In T20 cricket, there are better players as of now who can get going from the word go. Shreyas will have to work hard on his skills for T20”.
He is good in 50 over cricket. In T20 cricket, there are better players as of now who can get going from the word go. Shreyas will have to work hard on his skills for T20
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) July 29, 2022
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