Shreyas Iyer's outstanding performance in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka has given the team management a bigger, but happy, selection headache for the T20 World Cup 2022 squad.
After Kohli was released from the bio-bubble by the selectors ahead of the third T20I match against the West Indies, Iyer was able to earn a spot in the playing XI. He batted at No. 3 and scored 25 off 16 in that game, then went on to score 204 runs against Sri Lanka, including three consecutive unbeaten half-centuries.
With Kohli's return, Iyer will have to drop down the order, but India also has Suryakumar Yadav, who was named Player of the Match in the West Indies T20I series. So, there's another spot below, but the team still has Rishabh Pant. So, how will Iyer fit into the picture?
In an interview with Star Sports, Gavaskar admitted that Kohli is irreplaceable and that Iyer, along with Suryakumar, will have to slot in at No. 4 or 5.
“It's a great problem to have. Obviously Virat Kohli can't be replaced. He will probably come in at No.3, there is no question about it. But then you can use somebody like a Shreyas Iyer at No.4 or 5. Suryakumar, the way he has been batting, he is got to be included. It is just the plus, plus as far as the team is concerned,” he said.
With a "top-batting line-up," the legendary batsman continued, India can afford to select out-and-out bowlers rather than bowlers who can bat.
“There are so many options. And it allows you to go in with pure bowlers and not bowlers who can bat. With a top-batting line-up, you can can go in with someone like Mohammed Siraj or Avesh Khan, who is not known as a batsman. You don't have to look for someone who can bat like Shardul Thakur or Deepak Chahar or Bhuvneshwar Kumar. You might think in terms of all-out attack,” he explained.
India will next host South Africa for a five-match T20I series in June after the IPL 2022 concludes.
