'India need to work on getting right balance' - Venkatesh Prasad questions Shreyas Iyer's inclusion in T20I team

India opened their account in the T20I series against West Indies after walloping the home side by 68 runs in the opening match at the Brian Lara Stadium on 29th July, Friday. While India outplayed the hosts in every department of the game, former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad has raised questions over the selection of Shreyas Iyer, who was dismissed without opening his account.

After being put into bat by Nicholas Pooran, India reshuffled the batting order as Suryakumar Yadav opened alongside skipper and regular opener Rohit Sharma. Yadav was sent back in the fifth over by Akeal Hosein after a brief cameo, bringing Shreyas Iyer to the crease. However, the stylish right-hander went back for a duck, trying to hoick West Indian pacer, Obed McCoy.

India recovered from the setback and finished with 190/6 on the board after a typical enterprising half-century from Rohit and pyrotechnics by veteran Dinesh Karthik in the latter stages of the innings. However, Prasad blasted the Indian selectors for not considering Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Deepak Hooda ahead of Iyer in the T20Is, keeping in mind the upcoming T20 World Cup, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul as guaranteed starters.

“Some of the selection calls keeping the upcoming World T20 in mind are worth pondering. Shreyas Iyer in T20 cricket when you have Sanju Samson, Hooda, and Ishan Kishan in the team is bizarre. With Virat, Rohit, and Rahul definite starters, need to work on getting right balance,” Venkatesh Prasad said in a tweet.

Some of the selection calls keeping the upcoming World T20 in mind are worth pondering. Shreyas Iyer in T20 cricket when you have Sanju Samson, Hooda and Ishan Kishan in the team is bizarre. With Virat, Rohit and Rahul definite starters ,need to work on getting right balance.

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) July 29, 2022

Shreyas will have to work hard on his skills for T20: Venkatesh Prasad

Iyer, who missed out on a third consecutive fifty in the ODI series by just six runs, was criticised by Venkatesh Prasad for his lack of intent. The former Indian pacer said that the youngster is adept in the 50-over format but will need to hone his skills further as there are better options for the Indian team in T20 cricket.

“He is good in 50-over cricket. In T20 cricket, there are better players as of now who can get going from the word go. Shreyas will have to work hard on his skills for T20,” The ex-Indian cricketer said in another tweet.

He is good in 50 over cricket. In T20 cricket, there are better players as of now who can get going from the word go. Shreyas will have to work hard on his skills for T20

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) July 29, 2022