SL vs IND: "He gives you confidence," Shreyas Iyer opens up on working with head coach Gautam Gambhir

Shreyas Iyer said he will play his natural game in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer made his much-awaited return to international cricket on Friday. The 29-year-old Iyer was included in India’s playing XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka, which got underway on August 2 in Colombo.

A few months ago, Iyer was snubbed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from the central contracts for not playing domestic matches despite being asked to.

He then captained the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the Indian Premier League 2024 trophy. Interestingly, the new India head coach Gautam Gambhir was the mentor of the Kolkata-based franchise this year. Iyer and Gambhir are now teaming up for the national side.

Good to be around him: Shreyas Iyer on Gautam Gambhir

Iyer, who had a terrific World Cup 2023 campaign while batting at number 4, returned to national colours in the ongoing first ODI against Sri Lanka. Ahead of the match, the 29-year-old opened up about how his style of batsmanship, saying that he will look to play his natural game.

Iyer also spoke about working with Gambhir. Shreyas added that the Indian head coach gives a lot of confidence to his players and tries not to pile pressure on them.

“Important to be free and play my natural game this series. Free-flowing and not think a lot about circumstances. We have a phenomenal team and everyone is on top of the game. [Working with GG] I worked with him at Delhi Daredevils when he was the captain, and now at KKR. He gives you immense confidence. Can’t remember an instance when he put you in pressure. Good to be around him, you get to learn a lot. He has a lot of confidence about what team to play and what strategies to implement,” Shreyas Iyer said before the start of the first ODI.

Playing XIs for 1st ODI:

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

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