India's batter Shreyas Iyer made a surprising revelation during a post-match discussion with broadcasters on Thursday, stating that he was not originally scheduled to participate in the team's opening match of the three-match series against England in Nagpur. His inclusion in the lineup came only after Virat Kohli sustained an injury.

Iyer has been a pivotal figure at the No. 4 position for India in One Day Internationals over the past few years, effectively resolving the dilemma that plagued the team during the 2019 World Cup. In the 2023 World Cup, he emerged as India's second-highest run-scorer, amassing 530 runs at an impressive average of 66.25 and a strike rate of 113.24, which included two centuries and three half-centuries. He set a record as India's most successful No. 4 in World Cup history. His performance on Thursday further underscored this achievement, as he played a crucial role in India's recovery from a difficult start, scoring a brisk 59 runs off just 36 balls.

In his conversation with former cricketers Kevin Pietersen and Parthiv Patel, Iyer disclosed that he had not anticipated playing in Nagpur until the opportunity arose due to Kohli's swollen knee the day before the match.

"I wasn't supposed to play the first game. Unfortunately, Virat Kohli got injured, which opened the door for me. However, I had prepared myself, knowing that I could be called upon at any moment. This situation reminded me of last year during the Asia Cup when I was injured, and another player stepped in and scored a century," he shared with Star Sports, leaving the commentators momentarily speechless.

Pietersen inquired about the shift in Iyer's mindset from being a non-participant to scoring a match-winning fifty. The newly appointed captain of the Punjab Kings recounted, "It's actually a funny story. I was watching a movie last night and thought I could stay up late. Then I received a call from the captain informing me that I might play due to Virat's swollen knee, so I quickly returned to my room and went straight to sleep."

Iyer goes silent on India's Champions Trophy plan

Parthiv expressed his confusion regarding Iyer's exclusion from the series opener, suggesting that debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal had taken Kohli's place. 

In contrast, Iyer refrained from elaborating on India's strategies for the upcoming Champions Trophy. He remarked, "I am uncertain about what you expect me to say, but I intend to remain discreet and simply appreciate this moment of victory."

Read Also: Gambhir and Rohit Criticize the Decision to Bench Shreyas Iyer Amid Champions Trophy Strategy Reveal

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