“They are playing this as a practice match”, says Shreyas Iyer on Australia’s Underwhelming performance in the ODI series.

Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer has emphasized that despite their underwhelming performance in the ongoing ODI series, Australia should not be underestimated as they head into the World Cup. According to Iyer, the Australian team is treating the ODI matches as opportunities for experimentation, giving chances to various players.

Team India secured victory in the three-match ODI series with one game to spare, defeating Australia by 99 runs (according to the DLS method) in the second match held in Indore on Sunday. Earlier, the Indian team had claimed a five-wicket victory in the opening ODI in Mohali.

While Australia has displayed an unexpectedly subpar performance in the first two matches, Shreyas Iyer has emphasized the importance of not underestimating them. During a post-match press conference, he responded to questions about Australia’s losses in the initial two ODIs.

Shreyas Iyer said “We know how the Australian team is. The way they plan their stuff, I am sure they are playing this as a practice match and they want to build momentum going forward to the World Cup, so they are experimenting. Also, they are giving chances to a lot of players so that they get a fair chance to see how the conditions are in India.”

He added “At the same time, they play challenging cricket, so I am sure they would be planning pretty well in the future matches against India and also when I come into bat. So, I am never going to take them lightly as a team. They can hurt you at times. It’s always fantastic to play with them because they are highly motivated as a team and they lift up the atmosphere around.”