Shreyas Iyer made an impressive return to India’s ODI team with a crucial knock of 59 runs in the opening match of their three-match series against England, leading his side to a four-wicket victory. Iyer, who has been away from the national team for a long period, marked his comeback with a performance that demonstrated his batting skills.
While Iyer’s return was undoubtedly a highlight, it did raise some questions, notably from former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting who questioned Iyer’s long absence from the team. Iyer last featured for India at the ODI World Cup 2023 where he was one of the standout performers. At the ODI World Cup, Iyer plundered 530 runs, emerging as the seventh highest run-scorer in the mega event.
"I've been a little bit surprised that he's been out of India's side the last couple of years," Ponting said on the ICC Review.
"He had a terrific World Cup back in India where he played beautifully in the middle-order and I actually felt then that he'd almost cemented that spot and made that his own."
”Then he had those couple of injuries, obviously injured his back and went out of the side, but his domestic season this year has been brilliant."
"It sort of coincided with what he's done since around (IPL) auction time going forward in domestic cricket, he has been pretty much outstanding."
Ricky Ponting, the newly appointed head coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL, will be working with Shreyas Iyer, who is the skipper of Punjab Kings.