Iyer replaced Kohli in India’s XI at the start of the three-match series in Nagpur and smashed 59 off 36 deliveries to help pull off a 249-run chase with four wickets and 11.2 overs to spare.
“It’s been outstanding,” Iyer told broadcasters. “I wasn’t supposed to play the first game as we all know. Virat unfortunately got injured and I got the opportunity. But I kept myself prepared.”
He added: “So, funny story. I was watching a movie last night. I thought that I could extend my night. Then I got a call from the skipper saying that you may play because Virat has got a sore knee. And then I hurried back to my room, went off to sleep straight away.”
Iyer walked into bat with skipper Rohit Sharma out for two and India 19-2 when the IPL-winning captain smashed the opposition bowlers to all parts of the ground.
He put on 94 runs with Shubman Gill, who made 87.
The batsman’s blitz was studded with nine fours and two sixes as he set-up India’s 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
© 2025 AFP
