21-year-old Shreyas Iyer is still being overlooked by the national selectors, but the youngster’s batting exploits in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season has ensured that his demand in the IPL has skyrocketed. Delhi Daredevils have refused to let their star batsman go, despite receiving an offer for three players in return, according to Bengaluru Mirror.
Also read: IPL 2016 Schedule, venue details
Reportedly, DD were offered the services of three big players in Iyer’s exchange, including Aaron Finch, but the proposal by Mumbai Indians was shot down. Finch was released by MI before the auction, and so it appears that this approach was not made very recently.
Iyer is a local Mumbai lad, and his batting exploits have come mostly for the Mumbai Ranji side, but DD refused to back down.
Iyer had won the emerging player award in last IPL, having scored 439 runs in 14 games at an average of 33. He was one of the few bright spots in a terrible campaign for the Daredevils last season, and it is understandable that they do not want to let their Rs. 2.6 crore acquisition go.
Ranji history beckons, IPL stock rises, still ignored by India selectors
Iyer is currently on the verge of Ranji history, requiring 212 more runs in the final match against Saurashtra to record the most number of runs in a single domestic season. He is currently on 1,204 runs for the season, and it is likely given his current form that he can overtake VVS Laxman’s record of 1,415 runs in the 99-00 season.
Iyer has 11 fifty+ scores in the current season, which is already a record.
His first-class knocks always come at a very attacking pace – his most recent half century in the semi-final of the Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh came off 37 balls, his career FC strike rate is 84.
He has often been compared to Virender Sehwag, and it is likely that DD have plans to groom Iyer as Sehwag’s long-term successor. As seen from DD’s investments in the 2016 IPL auction, their priority is on signing young players – Pawan Negi, Karun Nair, Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, Mahipal Lomror and Khaleel Ahmed - another scheme into which Iyer fits into.
Despite being ignored for the Asia Cup and World T20, Iyer is also a future India prospect whose stock is fast rising. However long the India selectors ignore him, his demand in the IPL shows that he is seen as a safe bet.
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