Players who can replace injured Shreyas Iyer in ODIs vs South Africa
Indian cricket news is clouded by unfortunate news that Shreyas Iyer, the No. 4 player in the batting order, has suffered a spleen injury and is out of action. Now he will definitely miss the home ODI series against South Africa, which starts on November 30. And this, frankly, is a huge loss. What should the team do now and who can fill this void? Let’s look at players who can replace injured Shreyas Iyer in ODIs vs South Africa.
Riyan Parag
If you were looking for a player who literally burst into the discussions of fans and selectors, then this is him. Riyan Parag is now not just a budding athlete, but a real force. Last season in domestic tournaments, he became the best batsman in both the Deodhar Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Looks like the best bid for a place in the national team.
He offers aggressive batting, cool timing and, crucially, an extra bowling option – his easy leg-break can be a great way to defuse the tension in the middle innings. Consider his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2024. It may not have been too bright with the bat, but he immediately took three wickets! A player like that, who can turn the tide of a match in any aspect, is a real find. Yes, there is not enough experience at the highest level, but isn’t it worth giving a chance to someone who is so confidently pushing forward?
Tilak Varma
When you look for a player who is as similar to Iyer as possible, your eye immediately falls on Tilak Varma. Left-handed, cold-blooded, with the ability to both accurately rotate a strike and launch a helicopter shot when needed. After a match-winning double when he scored a crucial 69 runs in the Asian Cup final against Pakistan, Varma became an overnight star. And this is not just a flash, but only a confirmation of his talent.
Yes, his ODI statistics are not stellar yet: 68 runs in four matches. But numbers don’t always reflect reality. He’s in top form now, he’s full of confidence, and this fourth position in the batting order seems made for him. He won’t just fill a gap; he can bring his own energy to the middle overs. The team lacks that kind of stability, and Tilak looks like the most logical and ready candidate for this place.
Players who can replace injured Shreyas Iyer in ODIs vs South Africa: Sanju Samson
In our view, he’s the most obvious choice. However, Sanju Samson’s talent is forever in limbo. He was passed over for the series against Australia on the pretext that he was playing higher up the order. Now a spot in the top four batting order is available. The perfect time to finally give him a chance.
His ODI numbers simply scream that he is underrated: 510 runs in 16 matches at a phenomenal average of 56.66. A century and three half-centuries are proof of his class. He is stable, dangerous and hungry to play. To be honest, it’s strange to ignore such indicators. All the fans and experts appreciated his potential, but unfortunately, the selectors don’t see the same. Giving him a chance now is not only logical, but first of all fair.
That’s the question. The BCCI has a difficult but pleasant choice. Powerful all-rounder Parag, stable and promising Varma or unrealized, but so desired by fans Samson. Each option among the players who can replace injured Shreyas Iyer in ODIs vs South Africa is good in its own way. All that remains is to wait for the announcement of the lineup and hope that the choice turns out to be correct.
