Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar lauded Shreyas Iyer”s match-winning knock of 71 against West Indies in the 2nd ODI in Port of Spain. On Sunday, Gavaskar said that Iyer is more suited for the No.4 slot than under-fire Rishabh Pant.
India skipper Virat Kohli had earlier backed Pant to bat at No.4. The wicket-keeper batsman has shown a glimpse of his batting prowess but more often than not the youngster has been found guilty of playing reckless shots.
Iyer creamed the Windies bowlers with five boundaries and a six as India clinched a resounding win by 59 runs. Pant, on the other hand, was castled by Carlos Brathwaite for 20.
“In my view, Rishabh Pant is much better like an MS Dhoni at 5 or 6 as a finisher because that”s where his natural game and natural flair will come into play. If India get to a great start with Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma batting for 40-45 overs, then Pant at No. 4. But if it”s a question of batting for 30-35 overs, then I think it should be Shreyas Iyer at No. 4 and Pant at No. 5,” Sunil Gavaskar told Sony Ten 1.
You learn from the best batter: Gavaskar
According to Gavaskar, Iyer will get to learn from Kohli if he is promoted just after the skipper. Iyer and Kohli stitched a 125-run stand for the fourth wicket. The visitors put on 279/7 in 50 Overs.
“He [Sheryas Iyer] has grabbed his opportunity. He came at No. 5. He had plenty of overs. He had the company of his skipper, Virat Kohli. Nothing quite like it because the skipper takes the pressure off you. You learn from the best batsmen in the world. The best place to learn in cricket is the non-striker”s end. That”s what Shreyas Iyer was doing with Virat Kohli at the other end,” he added.
