Plan was to play as many balls as possible: Shreyas Iyer on rescuing hosts from difficult situation

India’s latest debutant Shreyas Iyer stamped authority with the bat right away after he scored a century in the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur and then followed it with a responsible fifty in the second. 

The home side were in a spot of bother after they were reduced to 51/5 in the second innings before Iyer along with R Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha provided the resistance to get the side back on track. 

The right-hander first stitched a stand of 52 runs for the sixth wicket and then put up 64 runs with Saha for the seventh wicket during the course. He was eventually undone by Tim Southee for 65. 

Talking about his knock, after the end of day’s play, Iyer revealed his plans and what was going on his mind while the side was in a tricky situation. 

“I had been in this situation before as well, not with the Indian team but with my Ranji team. Mindset was to play the session and play as many balls as possible. I wasn't thinking too far ahead, was just focusing on the present. (On being the first Indian to score a ton and a fifty in debut Test) Yeah, I knew about it. When I came back, one of my teammates told me about it. Yeah, many others have done it from other teams but I was told I am the first from India,” he said. 

Iyer further shared the conversation that he had with head coach Rahul Dravid. “Rahul Sir had told me to bat as many balls as possible and I was determined to do that. We felt that 250 including the first innings lead would have been a good score, so we're very happy with where we are now,” he added. 

New Zealand were handed a target of 284 runs and they ended the fourth day’s play at 4/1 with Tom Latham and William Somerville at the crease.