Ricky Ponting Surprised by Shreyas Iyer’s Omission from India’s White-Ball Squad Despite Stellar Performances

Ricky Ponting Surprised by Shreyas Iyer’s Absence from India’s White-Ball Squad

Former Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has voiced his astonishment at Shreyas Iyer’s inconsistent inclusion in India’s white-ball cricket setup, especially given his stellar performances in domestic cricket and during the 2023 World Cup. Ponting highlighted Iyer’s impressive ability to perform on slower pitches, which are characteristic of the subcontinent.

Iyer played a pivotal role in India’s journey to the 2023 World Cup final, amassing 530 runs and finishing as the seventh-highest run-scorer. His recent form was showcased in a blistering innings of 59 runs off just 36 balls against England in the first ODI at Nagpur. Additionally, the 30-year-old has continued his strong showing in domestic cricket, scoring two centuries for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

In a recent segment on ICC Review, Ponting remarked, “I’ve been a little bit surprised that he’s been out of India’s side in the last couple of years. He had a terrific World Cup where he played beautifully in the middle-order, and I thought he had almost cemented that spot.” He noted that Iyer’s injuries had hampered his progress but praised his outstanding domestic season since the IPL auction.

Ponting is optimistic about Iyer’s prospects in the upcoming Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai. “He’s got the game that will stand up to the white-ball formats, especially in that part of the world,” Ponting stated, emphasizing Iyer’s prowess against spin bowling.

As the coach of Punjab Kings, Ponting secured Iyer for a whopping Rs 26.75 crore for the upcoming IPL season and expressed his delight at having him on the team. “If Shreyas is out in the middle, then he’s as good as anyone. So, I’m delighted to see him back in the team,” he concluded.

For more updates and exclusive deals, visit Looffers.com.