Gavaskar Hails Shreyas Iyer's Maiden T20I Ton
Sunil Gavaskar celebrates Shreyas Iyer's explosive maiden T20I century against West Indies, calling it a strong signal that the captain is back to his best.
Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has lauded T20I captain Shreyas Iyer following a breathtaking maiden T20I century, describing the performance as a "strong signal" that the batsman has returned to his peak form. The innings, which came during a dominant run chase against the West Indies at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, saw Iyer dismantle the opposition bowlers with sheer aggression.
After enduring a challenging period where he failed to record a fifty-plus score in ten consecutive innings, Iyer broke his slump with a mesmerizing display of shot-making. Chasing a target of 172, the skipper reached his half-century in just 28 deliveries and then shifted into an extraordinary gear, racing from 50 to 102 in a mere 15 balls.
A Masterclass in Acceleration
Iyer's onslaught was particularly brutal during the middle overs. He targeted Akeal Hosein in the 13th over with two boundaries and a six, before turning his attention to Matthew Forde in the following over, punishing him with three sixes and a four. His ability to find gaps and manipulate the field left the West Indian attack searching for answers.
Speaking on JioStar's 'Cricket Live', Gavaskar emphasized how crucial this knock was for Iyer's confidence. "It was a sublime knock from Shreyas Iyer. He looked unstoppable, and no matter what lines and lengths the West Indian bowlers bowled, Iyer had an answer to everything," Gavaskar remarked. He specifically highlighted a stunning upper cut off Romario Shepherd as a moment that proved Iyer's intent.
"Shreyas Iyer has had a bit of a torrid time with the bat since becoming the captain of this Indian T20I squad. In recent times, the wins have come, but his own form with the bat was a concern. So, it was important for him to play a big knock, and he delivered," the legend added.
Joining the Elite Company
With this century, Iyer joins an illustrious list of Indian cricketers who have scored international hundreds across all formats, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Furthermore, Iyer has etched his name into the history books as only the third Indian captain to score a T20I century, following in the footsteps of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. Remarkably, he is the only Indian captain to achieve this feat during a run chase. His 42-ball knock also stands as the joint-third fastest T20I century by a captain from a Test-playing nation.
Lucknow: The Captain's Fortress
The Ekana Stadium seems to have become a sanctuary for Iyer. Having previously scored an IPL century at the same venue for Punjab Kings, his T20I performance bolstered an incredible record in Lucknow. In five T20 matches played at this ground, Iyer has amassed 335 runs at a strike rate exceeding 200, including two centuries.
The match itself saw the West Indies post 171, thanks to fifties from Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford, despite disciplined bowling from Naman Dhir and Kuldeep Yadav. However, Iyer's explosive entry, supported by a quick cameo from Abhishek Sharma and an unbeaten 37 from Ishan Kishan, ensured a comfortable victory for India.