Former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja showered praise on the batting duo of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul after India lifted the Champions Trophy for the third time. India bested New Zealand by four wickets in the summit clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Rahul added the finishing touches in the run-chase of 252, scoring a crucial knock of 34 runs off just 33 balls. The flamboyant batter added 38 runs with Hardik Pandya to take India close to the target.
Rahul scored a total of 140 runs in four innings of the eight-team tournament at an average of 140 and a strike rate of 97.90. The wicket-keeper bat also scored a crucial knock of 42 runs off 34 balls in the semifinal against Australia.
On the other hand, Iyer scored a crucial knock of 48 runs in the summit clash against the Blackcaps. India was in a spot of bother at 122-3 but Iyer added a pivotal alliance of 61 runs with Axar Patel.
The Mumbai batter scored 243 runs in five matches of the eight-team tournament at an average of 48.60 and was India’s highest run-getter in the competition and the second-highest overall.
“KL Rahul bats behind so big scores will not be seen but he has shown consistency and given stability to the team. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul have been real stars for me in this tournament. The most difficult part for India, as they have played in Dubai has been this – all teams have struggled in the middle phase,” Ajay Jadeja opined while talking on the ‘Dressing Room Show’.
“In that phase these two have been the most consistent. There are no hundreds or big scores but the stability that the team has gotten is because of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul,” he added.
On the other hand, former Indian off-spinner Nikhil Chopra hailed Shreyas Iyer for his crucial knock in the final against New Zealand.
“Shreyas Iyer’s innings was very important. The good thing is that whenever the Indian team has been slightly under pressure throughout the tournament, this player has come and has only kept the game moving. He waited that there will come a time where I will dominate the spinners. He has waited well for his time,” Nikhil reflected.
Both Iyer and Rahul will be seen playing for Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals respectively in the IPL.
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