Don't look too much into Shreyas Iyer's sturggles in South Africa Tests: Gavaskar

Listen to Story Legendary Sunil Gavaskar reckoned the selection committee should be more patient with Shreyas Iyer despite his failure in the recently concluded two Test series in South Africa. Gavaskar said it's not fair to point fingers at the Mumbai batter, highlighting that many of the Indian batters struggled to get going in hostile conditions in Centurion and Cape Town.

Iyer, who batted at No. 5 for India in the 2 Test matches, could manage to score only 41 runs at an average of a mere 13.67. His scores stood as 31, 6, 0 and 4. He was eventually criticised for his exploits, especially his inability to handle the pace and bounce in South Africa. Iyer hit the winning runs in the 2nd and final Test of the series that ended inside 5 sessions, but he was troubled by short balls during his 6 ball stay in the middle.

that was on offer at Newlands, Iyer's problems with extra bounce was highlighted once again. Gavaskar, while speaking on Star Sports, backed the batter after his failure to score runs in the Rainbow Nation and insisted on being given a longer run. He also reckoned that barring Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, no other batter scored runs in the series.

Hence, only one player can't be criticised for his performance. "Shreyas Iyer is not the only player who failed because it's not easy for any batter on these pitches. If you see, barring Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, no one else scored too many runs." "You cannot point fingers at just one player.

So I feel the selection committee will also think that he should probably be given more chances," Gavaskar added. Kohli was the top run scorer for India in the series with 173 runs. He played a valiant knock of 76 runs in the 1st Test match when the Indian team were bundled out for 131 runs and by an innings and 32 runs.

Kohli stood as India's lone warrior in the 4th innings for India. He top scored for India during their 1st innings at Newlands Stadium by scoring 46 runs, when India lost 6 wickets without scoring any run. Meanwhile, during India's 1st innings in Centurion. As the focus shifts from the South Africa series, India is set to play the 5 match Test series against England, starting January 25 in Hyderabad.

Iyer would be hoping to get back to scoring ways in the home series. Iyer's home record has never been a concern but the young batter is yet to score a fifty outside Asia in Tests..