Shreyas Iyer's return perfect example for seniors to play domestic cricket: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised Shreyas Iyer for his enterprising half-century in the first ODI against England while highlighting the importance of senior players playing domestic cricket. Iyer made his comeback to ODI cricket after six months but he showed no signs of nerves and took the England bowling attack to the cleaners.

The Mumbai batter walked out to the middle after India were in a spot of bother at 19/2 during their pursuit of a 249-run target. However, Iyer played aggressively and amassed 59 runs off just 36 balls, belting nine fours and two sixes. Shubman Gill (87) and Axar Patel (52) also scored half-centuries as India reached the target with four wickets and 68 balls left in the tank.

Manjrekar opined that Iyer's exploits in domestic cricket must have helped him during the blistering knock against England at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday, February 6.

"The way he batted today, just the technique and the ball hitting that was happening, it was very very compact, and a very good innings like a well-oiled machinery. If domestic cricket has helped him to just get into the groove, then all the arguments that we are hearing about the big names not playing domestic cricket, here's an example. Because Shreyas Iyer, the way he played, I'm sure there is some connection with him playing those domestic matches," said Manjrekar on ESPNcricinfo.

Iyer did not have a great start to the domestic season as he managed just 154 runs from six innings in the Duleep Trophy. However, he quickly bounced back to form in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 480 runs from seven innings including two centuries.

He led Mumbai from the front in the Syed Mushtaq Ali 2024-25, scoring 345 runs from eight innings at an average of 49.28 and a strike rate of 188.52. The right-handed batter helped Mumbai lift the title for the second time in three seasons. The 30-year-old carried his form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well, scoring 325 runs from five innings with two centuries.

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After his stellar knock, Iyer made a shocking revelation, saying that he wouldn't have been a part of the playing XI in the first ODI had Virat Kohli not injured his neck. Kohli is expected to recover in time for the second ODI on Sunday, February 9. However, it will be a tough call to drop Iyer after his impressive outing in the first ODI.