Shreyas Iyer has scores of 35, 13, 27 and 29 in first two Tests against England thus far.
Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan said that Shreyas Iyer wasted another opportunity to make a significant contribution with the bat, after being dismissed for 29 runs in India's second innings on Day 3 of the ongoing second Test against England in Vizag on February 4.
Iyer and Shubman Gill (104) stitched a crucial 81-run partnership following the early dismissals of Indian openers Rohit Sharma (13) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (17) during Team India’s second innings against England in Vizag.
However, Iyer's innings were cut short when England's captain Ben Stokes took a remarkable catch off Tom Hartley's delivery on Day 3. Attempting to hit over long-, Iyer failed to connect, and Stokes made an impressive catch after running back approximately 25 yards to end his stay on the crease.
The left-arm spinner Hartley got the better of Iyer for the second consecutive time after dismissing the Indian batter for 27 runs in the first innings of the ongoing second Test against England.
Zaheer Khan said on Colors Cineplex: “You need to understand the moments that are important for you and the team, and I feel that was a moment for Shreyas Iyer as well. Anderson had bowled his spell. Only one fast bowler was playing and after that, spin was going to be used.”
The former pacer added, “You have top-class ability to play spin. So, you wasted an opportunity. You lost your wicket while trying to be over-dominant and you might have to pay for it, considering the situation you are talking about.”
Alarm bells would be ringing for Iyer as he hasn't scored a single Test fifty since December 2022, and Virat Kohli is also likely to return to the side for the remainder of the Test series against England.
Zaheer said, “The selectors will sit again and select the team after these two Test matches. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli might come back. So, if you have two players coming in, two players will go out of the playing XI as well because they are players who will straightaway take their places in the XI.”
He signed off by saying, “So, if you don't score runs or don't show that you are fully ready, that you can understand any situation, show maturity, and contribute for the team, then Gill is definitely ahead in the race and you can say that Shreyas frittered away an opportunity.”