India, Oct. 24 -- India batter Shreyas Iyer opened up about his decision to take a six-month break from red-ball cricket, revealing that the physical demands of the longer format had begun to take a toll on his body and intensity levels.

Speaking after scoring a composed 61 in India's two-wicket defeat to Australia in the second ODI in Adelaide, Iyer explained that he found it difficult to maintain the same energy and focus required in Test cricket, especially during extended fielding sessions.

"When I played red-ball cricket after the IPL, I realised that if I field for long spells on the ground, my intensity starts to go down," Iyer said at the post-match press conference. "And the intensity that you need to maintain in international ...