New Delhi, October 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara praised Shreyas Iyer for his match-winning maiden T20I century against the West Indies in Lucknow, saying the innings came at the right time for the India captain.
India were in early trouble at 35/2 at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium when Iyer walked in. The right-hander responded with an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls, guiding the reigning T20 World Cup champions to an eight-wicket victory with 32 balls to spare and a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
“It came at the right time because he was looking for that form. There were not any questions regarding his batting because, when it comes to the T20 format, I think Shreyas is an exceptional cricketer, so there is no doubt about his quality,” Pujara said on JioHotstar.
Pujara was particularly impressed by the manner in which Iyer controlled the innings from the moment he arrived at the crease.
“He was timing the ball and was clearing the infield during the powerplay well. Once he got set, he started playing big shots and hitting big sixes. So, he was in complete control,” he said.
Pujara also highlighted Iyer’s ability to identify the bowlers he could attack and said the knock set an ideal example for the younger players in the team.
“He knew which bowler he had to target. So yes, this innings came at the right time because he needed this knock. When you are leading the team, you lead by example, and this is the example you want to set in front of the young players,” Pujara added.
Pujara also praised Naman Dhir for an impressive T20I debut. The batting all-rounder returned figures of 3/31 and was India’s most economical bowler in the match, using variations in pace, line and length to trouble the West Indies batters.
“It was good to see that he was using his cricketing intelligence. He picked up three wickets, but before that he got hit for a six, so he was trying to change his line, he was trying to change his length and was varying his pace really well,” Pujara said.
He added that Dhir could develop into a useful T20 bowler with greater experience, particularly on flatter pitches.
“You can’t expect him to bowl four overs in each and every game, but he’s definitely improving and is showing that he can be a decent bowler in a T20 format,” Pujara said.
Pujara noted that Dhir benefited from some assistance from the Lucknow pitch but would need to learn how to adapt when conditions offer little help.
“But the performance against the West Indies team in the first game was exceptional. There was some assistance from the pitch at Lucknow, so he will also have to learn the art of bowling on a flat pitch as well. But that will come with experience, and it was a good start for him,” he concluded.
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