File photo of Gautam Gambhir
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir praised Shreyas Iyer and claimed that he will be the biggest game-changer for him in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Speaking on Star Sports, Gambhir said that Iyer had to fight for his place after recovering from injury and then score a 70-ball century in the knockout stages of the tournament. He added that the Indian middle-order batting will be key for India in the final when Australians bowl Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa.
“Shreyas Iyer for me is the biggest game changer in this World Cup. He got injured and had to fight for his place, and to score a century in 70 balls in the knockout is simply outstanding. He will be key for India in the knockout out.” the final when Maxwell and Zampa bowl,” Gambhir said.
Shreyas Iyer created history on Wednesday by becoming the first middle-order batsman to hit 500 runs or more in a single edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
In this tournament so far, Iyer has amassed 526 runs at an average of 75.14 and a strike rate of over 113. He has scored two centuries and three fifties, with his best score being 128*. The batsman is the fifth highest run-getter in the tournament so far.
With his second consecutive century in the tournament during the semi-finals against New Zealand, Shreyas broke many records and continued his purple patch in ODI cricket.
In the match against New Zealand, Iyer was at his fiercest. He hit 105 in just 70 balls. His knock consisted of four boundaries and eight sixes. He hit his runs at a strike rate of 150.
In the final match of the 2023 ODI World Cup, India will take on Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
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