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'Go Back To Domestic Cricket', Ex-MI Star Slams Shreyas Iyer For Failure In ENG Tests

image-lsacdstjShreyas Iyer (X.com)

Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha has urged Shreyas Iyer to step back to domestic cricket, making way for senior players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in the upcoming match in Rajkot. Ojha's statement comes amidst discussions about the team composition and the inclusion of key players in the playing XI.

Shreyas Iyer has been caught in the whirlwind of criticism owing to his subpar form at the highest level. Iyer, India's supposed dependable number 4 batter, has struggled to grasp the all-format role.

In the recently concluded Test against England in Vizag, Iyer fell prey to Tom Hartley's spin web in both innings. The English bowlers duly exposed Iyer's weakness against short-pitched delivery and exploited that area to put pressure on the batter.

Iyer has now gone 13 innings in red-ball cricket without a 50+ score, which has raised the chorus for his immediate snub from the playing XI.

Meanwhile, former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha, while speaking to Colors Cineplex, urged Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar likewise to take a step back for the forthcoming Rajkot Test.

"Shreyas Iyer was left slightly behind. When you talk about great batters like Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul has also scored runs, when they return, they will automatically be part of the XI. So probably Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar will have to make way because the situation is like that," Pragyan Ojha said.

Ojha believes the KKR captain has been left behind in player development and is nowhere in the ranks of Virat Kohli, or even KL Rahul, for that matter.

Thus, if Rahul and Kohli are fit and available for the Rajkot Test, Iyer and Patidar would be required to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Not only that, the former spinner advised Shreyas to move back to domestic cricket and score runs in order to regain the lost confidence. Additionally, Ojha feels Iyer should take the snub sportingly and use it as a motivation to do better as an international player playing in national colours.

"It's not that you don't want to give opportunities, but when great batters are coming and you don't have that much room, you cannot give them the cushion. So go back and score runs in domestic cricket," Ojha added.

That being said, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli continue to remain unavailable for the Rajkot Test. Rahul and Kohli continue to remain unavailable for the Rajkot Test. While Rahul is struggling with a quadriceps injury, Kohli is on leave due to personal reasons.