"Shreyas Iyer Has To Decide": Ex India Star's Blunt Warning To Under-Fire Batter

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar adviced under-fire middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer to work on his defensive game if he wants to excel in Test cricket. Iyer, who has been struggling to score in Tests following a fine start to his long-format career, has been dropped from the squad for the final three Tests against England. In his last seven Tests, Iyer has managed just 187 runs in 12 innings at an average of 17.00, with the best score of just 35. Speaking in a video by ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar said that Iyer first has to decide as to which formats he is going to try excelling in.

"Iyer has to decide which are the formats he is going to try and excel in. If Tests continue to be his priority, then he has got to work on his defensive game whether it's pace and bounce or spin. Develop a game where he is confident in defence and then when he takes the aggressive route it is an extension of the defensive play where he is trying to dominate and not escape pressure by playing a counter-attacking game," said Manjrekar.

About his predictions for the third Test line-up, Manjrekar said that KL Rahul will make a comeback as a specialist batter and also admitted that he has no idea about how the team management is thinking about the wicketkeeper spot. KS Bharat has not delivered well, scoring just 221 runs in seven games at an average of 20.09, without any fifty in 12 innings. His best score is 44.

Manjrekar said that he would like to see India play other wicketkeeping options.

"Rahul definitely comes in for a batter. Have no idea what the team management and the selectors are thinking about the keeper. Before Rishabh Pant comes and takes his rightful place in the Test squad, would like to have a look at some of the other options