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'That's Not How...,' - De Villiers Goes Vocal About Iyer's 'Aggressive Test Batting' Remark

image-lriz6j7sShreyas Iyer in action in SA (AP Photos)

With T20Is done and dusted, India will now shift focus to the upcoming five-match Tests against England, where the selectors have banked on the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill to anchor the middle-order, leaving out veterans such as Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara for the first two encounters in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, respectively. 

Iyer, who is coming off poor outings in Tests against South Africa, has openly discussed playing aggressive shots regardless, only to find words of caution from former South Africa legend AB de Villiers.

De Villiers, who himself played shots all over the mark, also became known for his gritty defence, if need be.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) player explained that while he enjoys Iyer's batting, staying positive all throughout a Test is nearly impossible, and adapting to situations is key to success in the red-ball format.

“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," ABD said.

"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."

Iyer is currently turning up for Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024 season, where in one match, the Kolkata Knight Riders captain struck a quick-fire 48.