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'Flexible' Iyer ready to bat at any position in Indian team

October 31, 2017 19:05 IST

'I think I am very flexible. I don't mind batting at any number. Even in Indian Premier League this year, I was shuffled from number four to number three. It did not really matter to as I am comfortable.'

Shreyas Iyer

IMAGE: Shreyas Iyer after a training session in Mumbai. Photograph: PTI

Uncapped Shreyas Iyer on Tuesday claimed he is comfortable batting at any position and pointed out that scoring a century against South Africa 'A' in a tournament final earlier this year has been satisfying.

 

Iyer, who is part of the 16-member Indian squad for the T20I series against New Zealand starting on Wednesday, was rewarded for his consistent performances in the domestic circuit and the Indian Premier League over the last two years.

Iyer led India 'A' to a tri-series title in South Africa earlier this year, hitting a big hundred against South Africa in the final of the tournament, which also had Afghanistan 'A'.

"It was very helpful for me. I was going through a good patch, got good starts, but I was not able to convert them into big knocks till the final," Iyer said on the eve of the first T20 International against New Zealand in New Delhi.

"It (the final) was a big game, it (the knock) was really satisfying that it came through and obviously, once you get the team through, you get a lot of attention from the teammates as well."

Iyer said he is open to batting at any position and will always play in his natural attacking style.

"I think I am very flexible. I don't mind batting at any number. Even in Indian Premier League this year, I was shuffled from number four to number three. It did not really matter to as I am comfortable," said the youngster, who recently smashed a quickfire 138 from 124 balls at No. 3 for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy match against a Tamil Nadu side comprising Ravichandran Ashwin.

"Whatever number I bat, if I get to play the game, I will see to it that I give my best."

Shreyas Iyer

IMAGE: Shreyas Iyer, left, with India captain Virat Kohli. Photograph: BCCI

As usual, the Indian team had an optional practice session at the Feroz Shah Kotla, but skipper Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar skipped it.

Iyer said he is hoping to be a part of the team in at least one of the three T20 games.

"I am hoping to be a part of the playing eleven. There are three matches and it will be great for me even if I am able to play one game."

The first T20 International in New Delhi is set to be veteran seamer Ashish Nehra's last game in competitive cricket.

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