In a spellbinding opening ODI between India and England in Nagpur, Shreyas Iyer emerged as the hero with a match-winning knock of 59 off 36 that guided India to a four-wicket victory. The first ODI saw Iyer’s return to the national squad after an extended absence, making his performance all the more remarkable.
Originally not slated to play, Iyer was called into action after a knee injury to Virat Kohli disrupted India’s lineup. This unexpected opportunity allowed Iyer to take centre stage and showcase his talent. Speaking on his inclusion in playing XI, Iyer said he came to know about it from skipper Rohit Sharma.
“As you all know I wasn’t supposed to play today. Virat unfortunately got injured and then I got the opportunity. I kept myself prepared. I knew that at any point of time I can get a chance to play. The same thing happened with me last year as well during the Asia Cup. I got injured and someone else came in and scored a century,” Iyer said after the game.
“So, funny story, I was watching a movie last night, I thought I could extend my night, but then I got a call from the skipper (Rohit Sharma) saying that you may play because Virat has got a swollen knee. I went back to my room and went off to sleep straight away,” he said.
The victory by four wickets also saw India take a 1-0 lead in the series, giving them a massive advantage ahead of the Champions Trophy.They would further look to extend their dominance in the ODI format.