The first One Day International (ODI) between India and Australia witnessed a tough day for Indian middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer. After making his comeback following a bout of back spasms, Iyer faced a challenging outing on both the batting crease and the field. In a series of unfortunate events, the 28-year-old found himself under scrutiny for a costly dropped catch and a run-out during his brief stay at the crease.
The Dropped Catch
Shreyas Iyer’s day took an unfavorable turn when he dropped a relatively straightforward catch, providing a lifeline to Australian opener David Warner, who was on 14 at the time. It was a moment that proved pivotal, as Warner went on to play a crucial role in Australia’s innings, capitalizing on the opportunity offered by the Indian fielder.
The Run-Out Mishap
Iyer’s struggles continued when he came out to bat for India. His run-out in the 24th over of the run-chase added to his woes. Attempting a quick single after playing the ball towards the cover region, Iyer found himself at the wrong end of a miscommunication with fellow batsman Shubman Gill. Cameron Green, Australia’s alert fielder, quickly gathered the ball and delivered a precise throw to wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, who executed the run-out with precision. Iyer’s dismissal for just 3 runs off 7 balls further compounded his frustrating day.
Recovery from Back Spasm
It’s worth noting that this game marked Shreyas Iyer’s return to competitive cricket after recovering from a back spasm he had suffered before the India vs. Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash. Prior to this match, Iyer had managed to score 14 runs against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 group-stage encounter.