Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has ignited a debate around India’s Shreyas Iyer, questioning his commitment to red-ball cricket after a poor outing in the Duleep Trophy. Representing India D as their captain, Iyer was dismissed for a seven-ball duck in the first innings against India A, leading to intense scrutiny from cricket pundits.
Ali, who was known for his sharp cricketing insights, was vocal about Iyer’s apparent lack of hunger for Test cricket during a discussion on his YouTube channel. He argued that Iyer, fresh off an impressive white-ball season with multiple centuries in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024, has become overly focused on boundary-hitting rather than building innings in longer formats.
Basit Ali’s Bold Remarks
Basit Ali pulled no punches when addressing Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal, attributing it to a lack of concentration and a declining passion for red-ball cricket. “Iyer doesn’t have the hunger for red-ball cricket anymore. He’s only hungry for boundaries,” Ali stated. He further added that the batter’s recent success in limited-overs cricket may have inflated his confidence, drawing comparisons between Iyer and Virat Kohli, albeit unfavorably.
“If he thinks that scoring two centuries in the World Cup makes him another Virat Kohli, he’s wrong. Test cricket demands a different mindset. Iyer should have scored 100 or 200 runs here in Anantapur. If I was India’s selector, I would not have allowed him in the Duleep Trophy. He’s not showing the necessary respect for the game,” Basit remarked.
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India D’s Struggles in Duleep Trophy
Iyer’s performance in the Duleep Trophy has been underwhelming so far, especially with India D trailing significantly behind India A, who have been dominating with a lead of over 450 runs, courtesy of a century by Tilak Varma. Iyer’s failure with the bat has only worsened the situation for India D, and with two or three innings still to go, the pressure is now on Iyer to redeem himself and prove his critics wrong.
In contrast to Iyer’s struggles, fellow India A and India B players have shone in the tournament, with Devdutt Padikkal and Abhimanyu Easwaran registering impressive scores, further adding to the scrutiny on Iyer’s place in the side.
Shreyas Iyer’s Test Comeback in Doubt?
The Duleep Trophy was supposed to be a proving ground for Iyer as he eyes a potential recall to India’s Test team ahead of the upcoming series against New Zealand. However, with his dismal start, cricket experts are now questioning whether Iyer will make it to the squad. India’s selectors are expected to announce the Test squad soon, and with the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season looming, Iyer’s chances of showcasing his mettle are dwindling.
Iyer had been left out of the Bangladesh Test series squad, a decision that raised eyebrows, but unlike Ishan Kishan, who took the opportunity to prove the selectors wrong, Iyer’s performances have failed to strengthen his case for a Test recall.
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