Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has had a roller-coaster journey over the past year characterised by personal discipline and unwavering focus. Following his omission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Central Contract list last year, Iyer found himself sidelined, but instead of letting the setback define him, Iyer rededicated himself to the game to make a brilliant comeback.
Earlier this year, Iyer made his way back into the Indian team for the Champions Trophy and emerged as India’s second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, playing multiple match-winning knocks that played a crucial role in India’s victorious campaign.
"Well to be honest, It was a rollercoaster ride at the start; things looked in shambles, and everything looked helter-skelter. But I told myself to set a routine and discipline myself when it comes to playing domestic cricket," Iyer said while speaking at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Wednesday.
"I went back to my Mumbai team, played Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. All these tournaments literally helped me boost my momentum and confidence heading into CT. And I was lucky to have a series against England right before the Champions Trophy, where I got an opportunity to score and stamp my authority," Iyer said.
Shreyas Iyer is now once again a central figure in India’s middle order, eyeing future challenges, including the upcoming ODI series against Australia. At Champions Trophy, Iyer scored 243 runs from five innings at an average of 48.60, including two half-centuries and a best score of 79.