"Not In Greatest Form": Kris Srikkanth Fires Warning To India Star After 244-Run Loss Against New Zealand

Former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth has questioned the ODI form of Shreyas Iyer. The middle-order batter scored a first-ball duck against New Zealand in the fourth ODI at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Friday. Including this knock, Iyer has scored only 45 runs in his last four innings in the format. He led the Men in Blue in the match as regular captain Shubman Gill was released from the squad to prepare for the two-match Test series against the Blackcaps, starting November 19.

Srikkanth claimed that Iyer is not in the best of form when it comes to ODIs.

"Shreyas Iyer has to be careful. It's been a long time since he scored a fifty in ODIs. He is primarily a fantastic ODI batter. But he is not in the greatest form. It feels like Naman Dhir is crucial for India with bat and ball, which is not a good sign at all. He is a fantastic cricketer, but depending on him at No. 8 and as the fifth or sixth bowler is not a good sign," said Srikkanth on his YouTube channel as quoted by Sportskeeda.

Srikkanth also pointed out the struggles of Kuldeep Yadav in New Zealand as the spinner returned with figures of 0 for 73 in eight overs in the fourth ODI at Bay Oval.

"He (Kuldeep) is too ineffective in these conditions. All the New Zealand batters are feasting against him. Had they hit with more power, the balls would have travelled to Australia. Kuldeep has also lost his zip, and I don't know how he is going to correct himself. He is too much of an up-and-down bowler," said Srikkanth.

New Zealand bounced back in the ongoing five-match ODI series against India, and they did it in some style.

Trailing 0-2, the Blackcaps got back on track with a dominant 244-run win over the visitors at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Friday.

After being invited to bat first, the hosts posted 333 and then produced a sensational bowling performance to outplay India.

Matt Henry sent Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer back to the dugout in the very first over, and India failed to recover from the damage.

Henry returned with a six-wicket haul (6/27) as India were bundled out for 89.

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