Before the ODI World Cup 2023, Shreyas Iyer settles the Middle Order Debate
The ongoing three-match ODI series between the India and Australia cricket teams is being treated as a warm-up exercise before the 2023 World Cup, but Shreyas Iyer had all to play for going into the series. The 28-year-old has had to deal with his share of injuries since making his international debut back in 2017. The Asia Cup that India won marked his comeback from back surgery after six months, but a back spasm in the middle of the tournament meant he only got to bat once over the course of two weeks. Considering what he has gone through this year, especially the range of emotions in the last month, a third ODI century could not have come at a better time for him. Iyer was designated number four for team India before the injury pegged him back, and a virtual no-show in the Asia Cup meant his place in the playing eleven was far from secure.
In the meantime, Ishan Kishan also made a strong claim for a middle-order spot with a few good knocks. Now in this Australian series, a year had a lot to prove, and his runout in the first ODI match showed that luck was not on his side either. However, he made his own luck at the high-scoring Holkar Stadium on Sunday.
But in the second ODI match, Iyer completed a memorable century with a single off Zampa in the 30th over. The roar from him after reaching the milestone was understandable considering the series of events over the past six months.