AB de Villiers express disapproval with Shreyas Iyer’s batting plans for the England Tests

During the recently concluded Test series against South Africa, Indian batter Shreyas Iyer struggled, only managing to score 31 runs in two games.

Shreyas Iyer’s approach for the England Test series

With a forthcoming five-match Test series against England starting on January 25, Iyer shared insights into his approach during an interview on the sidelines of the Ranji Trophy fixture between Mumbai and Andhra Pradesh. Expressing his intention to maintain a positive mindset, Iyer emphasized his inclination towards attacking cricket, regardless of the game situation.

AB de Villiers’s concerns about Iyer’s red-ball cricket approach

However, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, speaking in his latest YouTube video, disagreed with this approach for red-ball cricket, stressing the importance of adapting to conditions and responding to diverse match scenarios in Test cricket.

“I absolutely love watching this guy play. He is geared to play in those England Test matches with a positive mindset. I don’t think there is a lot correct in the statement that you’re just going to play positive no matter what situation you are confronted with. That’s not how Test cricket works. But he’ll figure it out himself,” De Villiers said.

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De Villiers expects Iyer to adapt with experience

De Villiers further suggested that Iyer would grasp this perspective with increased experience in red-ball cricket.

“I think mentally, you need to think in a positive manner. I’m going to come out here today. I’m going to play the match-winning innings. But Test cricket just doesn’t allow you to bat positively for a whole day. That’s the beauty about the game, you need to be able to adapt to certain situations and conditions. Sometimes you need to earn the right to play more attacking, and that’s what Shreyas will certainly find out as he gets a bit more experience in Test cricket,” the 39-year-old concluded.

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