India middle order batsman Shreyas Iyer believes there were lot of things to learn from Bangladesh team in the series as all the three matches of T20I series were competitive and eventually hosts India managed to win it 2-1 despite losing the first game.
Iyer played a crucial knock of 62 off 33 deliveries with three boundaries and five sixes to help India post a challenging total of 174.
Iyer praised Bangladesh as a quality side and said he was not surprised to see Bangladesh competing for the series despite not having their two of the most senior players -Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan.
“I wasn't surprised to see Bangladesh were competitive in all three matches. Over the last two years, they've always pushed the Indian team close. They're a very good team. The quality of cricket they have shown, in batting especially...improvising, playing the reverse sweep and the sweep, manipulating the bowlers...it was really good to see that. There are a lot of things to learn from Bangladesh team as well. And that's what we have discussed in our team meetings and even in practice that we also need to practice sweep shots and reverse sweeps, because it might work for us on turning wickets,” said Iyer during the post match press conference at Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Nagpur on Sunday.
Bangladesh lost the third T20I by 30 runs.#BANvIND #RiseOfTheTigers pic.twitter.com/50BXEQkndu
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) November 10, 2019
Iyer admitted India were under pressure when Bangladesh were cruising at one stage and just 70 odd runs were needed from nine overs with eight wickets in hand. But Iyer gave credit to skipper Rohit Sharma and informed Rohit’s ‘pep-talk’ in the field motivated them to regroup and make a turnaround.
“Yes, we were feeling the pressure. We know that they are a really good team. In T20 you can’t underestimate any team. In the previous two games, we have seen that quality of cricket they were playing was mesmerising. We were going a little bit lethargic I would say at the start and once they got going Rohit recalled all the players inside the circle and gave us a ‘pep talk’ which was really motivating and after that we were really determined to win the game,” Iyer concluded.
