Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir showered praise on Shreyas Iyer, claiming that he will be the biggest game-changer for India in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Gambhir highlighted Iyer’s remarkable journey, emphasising that he had to fight for his place after recovering from injury and then delivered an outstanding performance by scoring a century in just 70 balls during the knockout stage of the tournament.
According to Gambhir, Shreyas Iyer will play a pivotal role for India in the final, especially when facing the bowling of Australia’s Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa. Gambhir stated, ‘Shreyas Iyer is the biggest game-changer for me in this World Cup. He was injured and had to fight for his place, and to score a century in 70 balls in the knockout is simply outstanding.
He’ll be the key for India in the final when Maxwell and Zampa bowl.’
On Wednesday, Shreyas Iyer made history by becoming the first middle-order batter to surpass 500 runs in a single edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup. In the current tournament, Iyer has scored 526 runs at an impressive average of 75.14 and a strike rate of over 113.
He has recorded two centuries and three fifties, with a best score of 128*. The batter currently stands as the fifth-highest run-scorer in the tournament.
Continuing his exceptional form, Shreyas Iyer secured his second successive century in the semifinals against New Zealand. In that match, he showcased his prowess by scoring 105 runs in just 70 balls, featuring four boundaries and eight sixes, achieving a strike rate of 150.
The final match of the ODI World Cup 2023 will witness India facing Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
