Bengaluru: Shreyas Iyer laid emphasis on an age old adage that offence is best defence, especially when India had their backs to the wall after Sri Lanka reduced them to 86 for 4 in the first session of Day 1 of day-night Test at Chinnaswamy Stadium.
"When I was sitting inside there was drama happening everywhere and the thrill was intense. I didn't want to get out defending the ball because there are more chances of getting out that way rather than scoring runs. In my mind the intent had to be positive and that's what I had decided before going out to bat," he said in an interaction with the broadcaster at the end of Day 1.
Shreyas had walked in to bat when India were tottering at 86 for 4, falling to Sri Lankan spinners who were getting the ball to spin and purchase off the uneven bounce of the track. They quickly removed top order including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cheaply, but Shreyas took charge and counter-attacked Sri Lankan bowlers to post a fighting 292 runs on board for India.
The Mumbaikar said he has no regrets in missing his second Test hundred by getting out to an audacious shot. "I did not have a hundred in mind. Once I reached the 80s, Jassie (Bumrah) was defending the ball well and I never thought I had to take the single on the 5th-6th ball. It is part and parcel of the game. Today wasn't my day and I have no regrets," he said at the end of Day 1 of the pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka here.
Shreyas was the last man to get out after he ventured out, dancing down the wicket to loft the ball over the fence for a maximum, and was stumped by Niroshan Dickwella off Praveen Jayawickrama. (UNI)