Shreyas Iyer made an impressive return to international cricket during the first ODI against New Zealand on Sunday, January 11, at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. Playing his first international fixture since October 25, a fit-again Iyer scored an important 49 off 47 balls, helping the Men in Blue register a four-wicket win while chasing a 301-run target. However, the Mumbai batter drew some criticism after getting out while playing a loose shot.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif compared Shreyas Iyer's batting style to that of Virender Sehwag and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who have gotten out playing reckless shots during their careers. However, the cricketer-turned-expert praised Iyer for playing well under pressure and counter-attacking instead of going into a shell, which is particularly commendable for someone who doesn't play all three formats for the national team.

"Look, Iyer also has a bit of Sehwag and Jaiswal’s style, that when he gets out, you feel, 'What recklass shot was that?' But I feel that his contribution at number four has been very valuable whenever he plays," Kaif said during a discussion on his YouTube channel.

“I will praise him. Shreyas deserves credit because he did not look rusty at all. After such a long time, playing in a single format, not playing Tests or T20s regularly, and only getting 10 to 15 ODIs in a year, coming back after such a long gap and batting the way he did, I will give him credit. He did not panic under pressure. Many batters will come, will look rusty, and will get beaten, but he came and counter-attacked. That is not an easy task,” he added.

Kaif noted that Iyer would have been under additional pressure, with talented youngsters like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting for opportunities in the Indian team.

“There is also pressure because there is a lot of competition in the team. Gaikwad is waiting outside after scoring a hundred, Jaswal is waiting outside after a hundred, the competition for spots is huge. So when you return after an injury and bat like that in this style, I give him credit. Although he got out and it looked a bit sloppy, as I had said, when he gets out it will look that way. But I feel that the way he batted and contributed at number four, he answered a problem that had existed for years," Kaif said.

The 31-year-old Iyer has played 74 ODIs, scoring 2966 runs at an average of 47.84 and a strike rate of 99.10. He has five centuries and 23 fifties to his name.