Shreyas Iyer, a cricket player from India, is doing really well batting at the number four spot in One Day International (ODI) matches. ODIs are a type of cricket game where each team gets 50 turns, called “overs,” to score runs. Iyer has now passed famous players like Brian Lara and Virat Kohli in an important record—who has the most scores of 50 runs or more (called “fifty-plus scores”) at number four.
In a recent game against New Zealand during the ICC Champions Trophy, Iyer scored 79 runs off 98 balls. He hit four boundaries (when the ball goes to the edge of the field) and two sixes (when the ball goes over the edge without bouncing). His scoring speed, or “strike rate,” was 80.61, which means he scored about 81 runs for every 100 balls he faced.
At number four, Iyer has played 39 innings—that’s how many times he’s batted in that position. In those games, he’s scored 1,728 runs, averaging 52.36 runs per game. His strike rate at number four is 101.52, showing he scores quickly. He has four centuries (100 runs or more) and 12 fifties (50 to 99 runs), with his highest score being 128*.
Iyer now has 16 fifty-plus scores at number four. This beats Brian Lara, who also had 16 fifty-plus scores but took 84 innings to get them, with two centuries and 14 fifties. It also beats Virat Kohli, who had 15 fifty-plus scores in 39 innings, with seven centuries and eight fifties. A website called Wisden keeps track of these stats.
The player with the most fifty-plus scores at number four in ODIs is Ross Taylor from New Zealand, with 65. For India, Mohammed Azharuddin has the most, with 36 fifty-plus scores, including three centuries and 33 fifties.
This year, Iyer has been in great shape with his batting. He’s gotten better at hitting short balls—pitches that bounce high and fast. In six innings in 2025, he’s scored 331 runs, averaging 55.16 per game. His strike rate is over 100, meaning he’s scoring faster than one run per ball. He’s made four fifties this year, with his best score being 79.
Overall, in 68 ODI matches, Iyer has scored 2,752 runs, averaging 48.28. He has five centuries and 22 fifties, with his highest score of 128*.
In short, Shreyas Iyer is becoming one of the best number four batters in ODI cricket, beating out some of the biggest names in the game!
