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If Shreyas Iyer Is Serious About Tests, He Needs To Play County Cricket: Monty Panesar
Follow UsThe 30-year-old played last of his 14 Tests in February 2024
Former England spinner Monty Panesar has advised Shreyas Iyer to play County cricket if he is serious about earning his place back in the Indian Test team. Iyer was not picked for the England tour, with the likes of Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan preferred over him.
Panesar believes that the 30-year-old needs to work on his technique in swinging conditions.
“Shreyas Iyer's got a very good technique against flat tracks and bouncy pitches. I think the swinging conditions, maybe his technique, doesn't line up at the moment. That's what I think. Because I think his hands are a bit hard. He hasn't got the soft touch, playing late with the swing ball. Seeing the swing early and playing late, he does come hard at the ball,” Panesar told the Hindustan Times.
“So, I think technique-wise, his game probably isn't suited for swinging conditions at the moment. And that's why they probably thought that, give some of the other players a go whose game is suited against swinging-seeming conditions. In terms of Shreyas Iyer, to get into the Test team, I think he needs to play county cricket.
“If he's serious about playing Test cricket, he needs to find a county and play a season of county cricket. And then, prove to the selectors that his technique is up to standard against a swimming string and ball."
Iyer, who played last of his 14 Tests in early 2024 is currently in good form in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has scored 516 runs at 46.90 along with a strike rate of 170.86, which includes five fifties in 15 innings.
Leading the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025, Iyer's team finished top of the points table and will take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 2 on June 1 (Sunday).