Mumbai and Team India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has urged the fans to support Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane instead of slamming them due to their poor returns with the bat.
Iyer and Rahane scored 7 runs each in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha. Shardul scored 75 runs for Mumbai as the team was bowled out for 224.
Speaking to the media, the all-rounder said that blaming the two players is wrong as they have been match-winners for India and Mumbai.
“Ajinkyta hasn’t scored runs in the whole season, but you can’t blame him as it is just a phase for him that he cannot contribute.
“It is a challenging phase for Rahane and Iyer. They are the match-winners, so look at their record for Mumbai and India.
“It is not their time at the moment. It’s time to support them rather than going after them because it is easy to slam someone,” Shardul told PTI.
Shardul said Ajinkya and Iyer are models for the players in the dressing room.
‘Ajinkya Rahane is followed by budding cricketers of various age groups. You see his attitude on the field. He gives his best even after fielding for 80 overs. Shreyas Iyer is like a tiger on the field. He gives his best. Both of them are role models,” he added.
In 8 matches, Rahane has scored 141 runs at an average of 12.81 with a solitary fifty. Iyer has managed 58 runs from three games at an average of 19.33.
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