Shreyas Iyer has made his intentions clear after India’s ODI series win over England—he is determined to pile on the runs and cement his spot in the playing XI for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After delivering another solid performance in the third ODI, Iyer expressed his hunger for more runs in an interview with the BCCI.
“I am hungry for runs. I hope I can score some important runs in the Champions Trophy,” Iyer stated after India’s convincing series win.
The middle-order batter played a crucial role throughout the series, but his personal desire to convert good starts into big scores remains unfulfilled.
“Absolutely feeling fantastic to win the series. We know how good the England team is. I am not content since I missed out on a hundred in the first ODI and today as well,” Iyer said.
A clinical 3-0 ODI series win ✅
And hunger to achieve even more 🙌#TeamIndia members react after a phenomenal ODI series win in Ahmedabad 👌👌
WATCH 🎥🔽 #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBankhttps://t.co/Tw4XGqqskT
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 13, 2025
Rohit Sharma’s tactical masterstroke
While Iyer was making his impact with the bat, India’s skipper Rohit Sharma played a crucial role in England’s chase of 357 runs. The turning point came when Ben Duckett, who had been hammering Indian bowlers despite struggling with a groin injury, was dismissed after a well-planned bowling change by Rohit.
After Duckett smashed four consecutive boundaries off Arshdeep Singh, Rohit immediately signaled to his bowler to target the left-hander’s limited foot movement due to injury. The very next over, Arshdeep adjusted his pace, bowled a knuckleball, and removed Duckett, prompting an approving nod from Rohit, who pointed to his temple, signaling the success of using smart tactics.
Iyer’s remarkable form at No. 4
Shreyas Iyer continued his fine form at the crucial No. 4 batting position, which has often been debated as India’s biggest headache in ODI cricket. He played a well-paced knock of 78 off 64 balls, falling just short of a century after being strangled down the leg side by Adil Rashid.
Since the start of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Iyer has excelled in the No. 4 role, scoring 801 runs in 18 innings at an impressive average of 53.40, striking at 114.59. His consistency includes two centuries and six half-centuries, making him one of India’s most reliable middle-order batters heading into the Champions Trophy.
Looking ahead to the Champions Trophy 2025
Iyer’s form is a massive boost for India as they prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where they will open their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai. With the competition for spots heating up, Iyer knows the importance of delivering impactful performances to solidify his place in the squad.
His determination to score big and his ability to control the innings at No. 4 will be crucial for India as they aim to bring home another ICC title.