Asia Cup: How Shreyas Iyer’s 199 sealed his comeback bid

Shreyas Iyer looks set to take part in the Asia Cup 2023 barring any last-minute surprises. Iyer has been on a long recovery path for some time but smashed his way into selector’s hearts with a 199-run haul in training.

Let’s find out how Shreyas convinced selectors to make him a part of Team India’s squad at the Asia Cup 2023.

How Did Iyer Seal His Comeback to Team India?

Shreyas went on a comprehensive fitness routine to get in shape ahead of Asia Cup 2023. He engaged in match simulation programs at the National Cricket Academy to sharpen his gameplay.

Iyer also made the most of his opportunity for selection in a warm-up game. A BCCI source illustrated Iyer’s performance in a recent report:

“He smashed the bowlers at the National Cricket Academy, scoring 199 in a practice tie. To provide the selectors with more evidence of his fitness, he then fielded for the entire 50 overs of that match, which was held at the Just Cricket Academy in Bangalore 3-4 days back,“

Who Cleared Shreyas Iyer?

Newly-appointed BCCI Chief Selector, Ajit Agarkar, cleared Shreyas Iyer as fit after assessing several elements of his training performance.

Who Else Was Cleared as Fit Along with Iyer?

KL Rahul seems to be fit enough to take part in this year’s Asia Cup according to several reports. The experienced player was seen in a video batting alongside Iyer in an NCA facility. Both cricketers took part in fitness drills and engaged other programs to get in shape for the tournament. A BCCI officials satisfied with the progress of Iyer had this to say:

“For the past two months, he has been stationed at the NCA in Bangalore, focusing on his recovery. It’s all come together nicely for him,”

What Does Shreyas Have to Say About His Return to Active Cricket?

Shreyas Iyer was full of thanks after returning to the Men in Blue squad for Asia Cup 2023. The experienced batter showed gratitude to support staff at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bengaluru where he worked to gain match fitness.

Why is Iyer So Important to Team India at the Asia Cup 2023?

Shreyas is the final piece in the puzzle of a star-studded side ready to clinch another Asia Cup trophy in September. The player brings his middle-order batting experience to the team, allowing other cricketers greater freedom to man different vital positions.

India has been having a No. 4 problem for some time now ahead of the Asia Cup. Iyer’s return helps the time solve that problem and boost their chances of securing an outright, record-extending 8th Asia Cup crown.

Shreyas Iyer Records before Asia Cup 2023

Batting

Iyer has been a part of 480+ matches across formats throughout his career. Check out some of his batting numbers below:

As it stands, Shreyas has amassed over 17000 runs as a batter across all formats, making him one of Team India’s hottest talents. He also has a decent average record across all formats with impressive strike rates in T20 and ODI cricket.

Shreyas also has 27 centuries and is well short of clinching the century of centuries record held by Sachin Tendulkar. However, his impressive sixes haul in T20Is (42) in 49 games may help Team India attain glory in Sri Lanka later this year.

Bowling

Bowling isn’t Iyer’s forte but the batter has been available in several formats as a spin player. He has 10 wickets on record before Asia 2023 but has failed to score any in Test, ODIs, or T20Is as a professional player.