I was stunned by Rohit Sharma's batting: Shreyas Iyer

Team India bounced back in form in fine fashion. After a thumping defeat in the first ODI at Dharamsala, the hosts have done everything correct to level the series thus far. The second ODI at Mohali will be remembered for Rohit Sharma’s heroics. Along with Rohit, there was another unsung hero in Shreyas Iyer, who helped India post a total of 392 on the board.

Iyer and Rohit were the chief architects of the innings. Shreyas Iyer arrived at the crease after the dismissal of Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan (68) and Rohit Sharma (208*) added 115 runs for the opening stand. Iyer joined Rohit at the crease and took very little time to settle. After the two batsmen set their sights in the middle, it was an absolute carnage that followed.

Rohit Sharma raced to his double ton in just 151 deliveries, with his second part of the double ton coming in just 36 balls. The spectators loved the show. But the best seat was arguably reserved by Shreyas Iyer for the major part of the innings. Reflecting back at the innings, Iyer conceded that he loved watching Rohit bat. Moreover, he backed his own instincts to attack the ball in the match.

“I was just being a spectator at the non-striker’s end after getting to my 50. Just happy to give the strike to him. It was just the Rohit Sharma show thereafter. We batted well in the nets yesterday and it felt good. I took the confidence out there to the middle and it worked. Just backed my instincts, expressed myself. It’s a good pitch to bat, just a bit tough early on and we hope to take 2-3 wickets early on,” quoted Shreyas Iyer in the mid-innings break.

‘I got lazy’

Speaking further about the 213-run stand that the two players had, Shreyas Iyer remarked that he was stunned to see Rohit clobber the deliveries at will. Iyer, who scored 88 in the match, mentioned that he got a little lazy towards the end and that cost him his wicket.

“We had decided that we will take it to the 40th over and see from there because we had a good batting line-up. We knew that if one of us stayed till the end, it could be really good for the others to bat around us. There was a patch when I was just watching Rohit bat and I was stunned by that. I guess I got a bit lazy during that phase and maybe should have carried on further. But I guess it’s part and parcel of the game,” mentioned Iyer.