Shreyas Iyer’s temperament and control were in full exhibition in the just-concluded T20I series versus Sri Lanka, in which he remained unconquered. Irrespective of the strength of the opposition’s bowling attack, it’s never easy in the shortest format to score three successive half-centuries, that too unbeaten.

Shreyas’ achievement speaks volumes of his composure and the rhythm that he has at present. But does that make him an automatic choice in India’s final XI for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka that begins in Mohali from Friday?

Shreyas doesn’t want to overthink about it.

“I want to give myself some time and not think much beyond. It’s (Test series) something that if I start thinking too much about now, I won’t be able to focus when I’ll be there at the ground. So it’s better to stay in the moment,” Shreyas, the first Indian to score a ton and a half-century on Test debut (in Kanpur last year versus New Zealand), said after Sunday’s final T20I in Dharamsala.

Though it’s a different format, such an impressive showing with the bat in the T20I series has kept the Mumbai-based Shreyas in a good frame of mind and flow. That needs to be considered while finalising the team combination for the Mohali Test, believes Mumbai head coach Amol Muzumdar.

“You sometimes have to look at a player and see the talent he possesses. You need to back that talent as well.

“We all saw how Shreyas fared in his debut Test. At least in the current Indian middle order, I don’t think there’s anyone other than Shreyas to grab a spot. He’s a proven customer in all formats of the game,” Muzumdar, also a former Mumbai captain, told The Telegraph on Monday.

With Cheteshwar Pujara dropped, the No.3 slot, where Shreyas batted in the recent three T20Is, could be ideal for the 27-year-old, Muzumdar feels. “Virat (Kohli) being at No.4, so either No.3 or No.5 could be a good place to bat for Shreyas. But my personal choice would be No.3,” Muzumdar, who scored 11,167 first-class runs, said.

But former national selector Devang Gandhi would want a Test specialist like Hanuma Vihari to be preferred in the XI. “There’s no scope of a stop-gap arrangement. India need someone who could be a long-term option at No.3,” Gandhi argued.

“Besides, T20 is a completely different format. Had Shreyas got those runs in ODIs, one still could’ve thought of including him in the XI for the Tests.

“In Test cricket, you need specialists, and a player like Vihari needs a fair run in Indian conditions too. Shreyas will have to wait for his turn,” Gandhi, currently Bengal U-19 head coach, said.

Short-ball issues

Shreyas has had issues tackling short-pitched deliveries even in white-ball cricket, which could pose bigger problems for him in Tests. He has worked on this aspect recently with head coach Rahul Dravid at nets and also banks on his mindset.

“With the right mindset, you can play any ball,” Shreyas stated, adding: “I’ve obviously reached this level playing the short balls and my mindset is to focus on my strengths.”