Shreyas Iyer 'criticises' rotation policy, says players need certain amount of chances

Before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, the Indian cricket team was playing a huge game of musical chairs when it came to the No.4 position in the Indian batting order. Players like Ambati Rayudu, Rishabh Pant, Vijay Shankar, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer were all been rotated in and out of the side as they look to find the ideal candidate to fill the No.4 spot in the batting line-up. After many trials, Shreyas Iyer and Ambati Rayudu were given the cold shoulder for the ICC Cricket World Cup while Vijay Shankar and Rishabh Pant got a chance in the marquee tournament. With Iyer now part of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming series against West Indies, the 24-year-old has said players need a secure environment to flourish.

"If you are really good talent, then you need a certain amount of chances to prove yourself and get acclimatised to the conditions. If you keep coming in and going out (of the team), it doesn't really set a good pattern for one's self and you start disbelieving yourself. If you are a great talent, then you need some time," Iyer told PTI in an exclusive interview.

Despite some consistent performances in the domestic circuit as well as at the A level, Iyer has not managed to seal a spot in the team on a consistent basis. The Mumbai batsman had expressed disappointment at the constant snub but he has now followed a wait and watch approach. "You tend to lose patience but the selection is not in your hands. All you can do is perform, perform and perform and that's what I enjoy doing. You have to keep performing and keep showing people that you are capable of playing at the higher league. Once you get that sniff, you never look back," Iyer said.

Iyer, though, was candid to admit that the snub for the 2019 World Cup will continue to haunt him. "It was difficult to not get selected. It was my dream to play the World Cup for my country. I know there are a few opportunities that I got but unfortunately, the team combination was such that it didn't demand me to be. There was a lot of buzz about me before the World Cup selection because I was consistent and aware of the hard work and smart work that I had put in. It will definitely reap benefits and help me in future when I play for India," Iyer said.

In the recent five-match one day series against the West Indies A, Iyer slammed two fifties and finished with 182 runs at an average of 62. The Delhi Capitals skipper believes all the performances on the A tour will help him significantly for the senior tour which will begin on August 3. "The A tour has always given me an opportunity to prove myself in the higher league as this is the stepping stone. I was in West Indies for the List A series and I had an idea of how the pitches play and also it's so hot out there that you need to keep yourself hydrated," Iyer said.

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HIGHLIGHTS

• Shreyas Iyer was left out of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
• India was eliminated in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup.
• Iyer was part of the India A side on the recent tour to West Indies.