Iyer shows good intent on Ranji return ahead of England Tests

The last time Shreyas Iyer played a first-class match for Mumbai, he was yet to play Test cricket, back in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy.

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The Iyer that walked out to bat in Mumbai's latest Ranji Trophy match on Friday is a different person.

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He has played regularly in all three formats for India, and though he was left out of the T20I squad for the ongoing series against Afghanistan, he is the incumbent No. 5 in Tests.

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He had a tough tour of South Africa, where he scored 31, 6, 0 and 4 not out.

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The two Tests there were his first in over nine months, part of which he was out because of a back problem that required surgery.

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The match against Andhra gives him a chance to get into his groove ahead of the home Tests against England starting January 25.

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Mumbai were asked to bat on a greenish surface on a sunny morning.

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The openers added 69 in a steady start before Jay Bista and Ajinkya Rahane, the No. 3, fell off successive balls.

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Bhupen Lalwani, the other opener, and Suved Parkar, the No. 4, then took Mumbai to lunch, giving Iyer some more time.

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He walked to the nets just outside the playing area with batting coach Vinit Indulkar, left-arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar, and a throwdown specialist in tow.

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He started slowly, but raised the tempo as time went on, and finished his close-to-25-minute stint with aerial shots in all directions.

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