It was just days after he had suffered a debilitating shoulder injury that I chatted with Shreyas Iyer. He was in pain, but the resolve had not gone away one bit. While he was still unsure if he needed surgery, his focus was very much on his return. He wanted the big stage for himself and was determined to make a mark. That he had to undergo surgery and missed the next World Cup must have made him even more determined. Knowing Shreyas, he must have been itching to be out there in India colours.
Since then, much has happened in his career. A very good 2023 World Cup followed by a strange fall-out that saw him lose out on his central contract. He was penalised for not playing one Ranji Trophy game, while many others have gotten away with not playing any. Injuries did not help, and Shreyas lost his way a little bit. But with him, the one thing that stands out is his resolve.
Every adversity has made him stronger and he has made it back to the national team on the basis of his efforts in domestic cricket. By his own admission, he would have missed out on an opportunity in Nagpur had Virat Kohli been fit. But then, that’s how sport is. He grabbed his chance with both hands and indeed made a statement.
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Shreyas, unlike some, has scored thousands of runs in domestic cricket at a very healthy average of over 50. He also has a staggering first-class strike-rate of over 80. In fact, that’s what makes Shreyas so relevant for this team. On wickets that turn, India needs someone in the middle order who can counterattack and open up a game. In fact, between Iyer and Shubman Gill, India have two players who are capable of playing their shots. In such low-scoring matches, the ability to open up a game is considered key to the team’s chances.
Shreyas had come close to making it back multiple times in the recent past. In fact, he had established himself as a reliable white-ball batter before injuries pushed him back. With a lot of top-flight white-ball cricket in the pipeline, it is important for him to reestablish himself as a reliable option, more because opportunities are expected to open up in the middle order in the not-too-distant future.
Mentally, it can be conjectured, Shreyas is ready. He has a certain steel about him and that should help. With the wait finally over, it is now important to translate all these months of work into runs for India. That’s when the pain of missing out on the contract and being left out of the team would really have been overcome.
And for the management, he is now a pleasant headache. They know a match-winner is ready in the ranks, and will fire in conditions that are expected to suit him. How they use him could well have a real impact on India’s fortunes in the Champions Trophy.
Also Read: Shreyas Iyer and Jofra Archer – Making A Tune Out Of The Chin Music
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