NEW DELHI: India’s stylish middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer is on the brink of etching his name into the record books as he stands just 34 runs away from a significant milestone in Indian cricket history.
Iyer is expected to achieve the landmark in the second ODI against New Zealand, with India pushing to seal the series. The right-hander currently has 2,966 runs in 68 ODI innings, and those remaining runs could place him in elite company.
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Chasing an elite Indian milestone
If Iyer reaches the 3,000-run mark in his next innings, he will become the fastest Indian batter to 3,000 ODI runs, going past established greats Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, who reached the milestone in 72 and 75 innings respectively.
What makes Iyer’s potential achievement even more impressive is that he is a middle-order batter. He has shown remarkable consistency, adapting seamlessly to different match situations.
In world cricket, the record for the fastest to 3,000 ODI runs is held by South African legend Hashim Amla, who achieved the feat in just 57 innings.
Key role as India eye series win
Iyer recently returned to international cricket after a prolonged injury layoff and made an immediate impact in the first ODI in Vadodara. He scored a valuable 49 runs during India’s chase, showing no signs of rust before falling just short of a half-century.
As India look to wrap up the series in the next match, Iyer’s role in the middle order will once again be crucial, both for the team’s success and for a personal milestone that could further cement his place among India’s most reliable ODI batters.
