On the eve of the third and final ODI against West Indies in Cuttack, India batsman Shreyas Iyer said he has adjusted his game to suit the needs of the team and is willing to be flexible and bat at any position.
WATCH- Shreyas Iyer plays helicopter shot to send the ball over the ropes
Team India’s No. 4 conundrum in the limited-overs cricket was a topic of discussion for some time. There were a lot of changes made to the crucial batting slot over the past couple of years, and yet the choices flattered to deceive during the ODI World Cup in England and Wales.
After the World Cup, Iyer received a token of confidence from the Indian team management for the middle-order slot and he has justified the backing so far.
The right-hander has batted at No. 4 and No. 5 in the recent past and registered the scores of 71, 65, 70 and 53 in his last four innings.
"I think that comes with maturity and responsibility. I was a flamboyant player when I started playing first-class cricket. I never used to take responsibility. I just used to back my instincts and go with the flow," Shreyas, who scored 32-ball 53 in India's 107-run win over West Indies in the must-win 2nd ODI, told reporters on Saturday (December 21).
"Lately, I've realised that once you play at the highest level, you gotta take that maturity to another stage.
"You have to play according to the team demands. I feel that whatever the situation demands, you have got to play accordingly. I am happy with the way I played in the 2nd ODI.
"Previous ODIs, I played I was batting at No. 5. It's not that I have been stable at No. 4 but in the last 2 games, I have been batting at No. 4. I am flexible that way in batting at any number. You got to be flexible and play according to the team's demands.
"I know that I can play in both flows. I can even play strokes and I can even nudge the ball and take single, so I know my game really well right now and I can play accordingly."
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has been confirmed as the captain of Delhi Capitals for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League during Thursday's auction.
Asked about Capitals’ decision to continue with him as skipper, the 25-year-old showered rich praise on team's head coach Ricky Ponting.
"Ricky Ponting is a very positive guy. He backs every player and that's the best quality about him. He also treats everybody equally. He has got an amazing nature as a coach and his man-management skills are outstanding," Iyer said.
(Inputs from India Today)
