1. Brief overview of Shreyas Iyer
Today, Shreyas Iyer has become a household name in the field of cricket because of his unbelievable performance in the World Cup tournament.
Cricket lovers waited for him to come on the ground and to play his big shots and hit the huge sixes. His ability to stand and deliver is amazing when he lifts his bat without moving from his place and makes the ball disappear in the crowd.
Importance of Shreyas Iyer in Indian Cricket Team
Shreyas Santosh Iyer is an Indian international cricketer who plays for the Indian cricket team as a right-handed batter. He is a right-handed attacking batsman, who loves to hit hard and huge shots. He is the ideal batter to be suited at the number 4 position in the team today.
He has played in all formats for the Indian team. Iyer scored a century in his debut test match and a half-century in the second innings against New Zealand in November 2021 and became the first Indian player to do so.
Iyer plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket and captains Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. He played for the India Under-19 cricket team at the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
He was named in the India Squad for the 2023 Cricket World Cup and Scored Century in the semi-final against New Zealand.
He made headlines when Delhi Daredevils bought him at the 2015 IPL auction for Rs 2.6 crore (about US$416,000).
It was the faith he repaid with interest: he made 439 runs that season and won the IPL Emerging Player of the Year award.
Over the next six seasons, he became a mainstay of the side and its captain, making over 400 runs a season for them four times.
2. Early Life and Background of Shreyas Iyer
Birth and family background
Shreyas Iyer was born on December 6th,1994 in Chembur – Mumbai. His father Santosh Iyer was Tamilian and his mother Rohini was Tuluva.
Iyer family originated from Thrissur, Kerala. Shreyas went to Don Bosco High School, Matunga, and to Ramniranjan Anandilal Podar College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai.
Introduction to cricket
The coach Pravin Amre was impressed with his batting style and started training him at the age of 18 years at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana.
Shreyas was famous for his hard-hitting batting style and for long shots among his friends and was nicknamed young Viru (Virendra Sehwag).
Early achievements and recognition
During his graduation from Podar College in Mumbai, Iyer helped his college team to lift some trophies. His ability to hit the ball, excellent fielding skills, and cricketing capabilities helped him to become India’s middle-order batsman and captain at a young age while playing IPL.
3. Shreyas Aiyer Cricket Career
Domestic Cricket
While playing at the domestic level, Iyer started playing in the Ranji matches from his native place Mumbai. He had successfully played in the Ranji matches during 2015-16 and became the top scorer in the Ranji Trophy competition.
In 2016-17, he played superbly against the visiting Australian team to score the highest first-class score.
Debut and early years in domestic cricket:
In the 2015–16 Ranji Trophy, Iyer scored 1,321 runs during the tournament including four centuries and seven fifties at an average of 73.39, becoming the top scorer of the Ranji season and the second player to score 1,300 runs in a single Ranji Trophy competition.
In the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy, Iyer scored 725 runs including two centuries and two fifties at an average of 42.64. He scored 202 not out of 210 balls, against the visiting Australia team in a 3-Day Practice match in Mumbai, his highest first-class score.
First-class and List A performances
- In the 2015–16 Ranji Trophy, Iyer scored 1,321 runs during the tournament including four centuries and seven fifties at an average of 73.39.
- He scored 725 runs during the 2016 – 17 Ranji tournament he made two centuries and two fifties at an average of 42.64.
- His knock of 202 runs not out off 210 balls remained an outstanding first-class score while playing against the visiting Australia team.
- In the Ranji trophy season during 2018, Iyer was named as the vice-captain of Mumbai for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Deodhar Trophy, and was named as captain of the India B team.
- Shreyas Iyer was the leading run-scorer in Deodhar and Syed Mushtaq Ali’s trophy. He also became the player to score the highest total of runs in a T20 match.
- He played for Lancashire in England during the 2021 county cricket season.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
Shreyas Iyer became the highest-earning uncapped player of IPL 2015 when he was purchased by IPL Delhi Daredevils for Rs. 2.6 crores in the auction.
He became the 9th most consistent player and emerging player of the 2015 IPL when he scored 439 runs in 14 matches, with a 33.76 average and a strike rate of 128.36.
Team affiliations
Delhi Daredevils not only retained Iyer for the 2018 IPL season but he was announced as the new captain of Delhi Daredevils replacing Gautam Gambhir.
On his IPL captaincy debut, Shreyas Iyer played a captain’s knock by smashing 93 runs off 40 balls with 10 huge sixes. His not-out innings of his third successive IPL fifty earned him the Man of the Match award and a win for his team.
2019 IPL season, Iyer led his team into the playoffs for the first time after seven years.
In the 2020 season, he continued as the captain for Delhi Capitals and led the team into the maiden IPL final against the Mumbai Indians. His superb knock of unbeaten 65 off 50 balls helped his team to fight back in a battle against Mumbai Indians before losing in the IPL final.
Notable performances and contributions:
Due to the shoulder injury, Iyer missed the half season of IPL 2021 though he came back to his team Delhi Capitals after six months.
In the 2022 IPL Auction, Kolkata Knight Riders bought Shreyas Iyer for ₹ 12.25 crores. He was also given the responsibility of the team as captain.
4. Shreyas Iyer International Career
Debut and early international matches
In March 2017, Shreyas Iyer made his debut in the Indian cricket team just before the fourth Test against Australia. While in the fourth test as a substitute fielder, he brilliantly ran out Steve O’Keefe for 8.
Shreyas Iyer made his debut in India’s Twenty20 International (T20I) in October 2017 and was a part of the T20 squad to be played against New Zealand. He didn’t bat.
Shreyas Iyer was selected for India’s One Day International (ODI) squad to be played against Sri Lanka. On his debut in 2nd ODI at Mohali against Sri Lanka on 10 December 2017, Iyer scored 88 runs off 70 balls and started his international career successfully.
On 25 November 2021, Iyer was selected by the Indian team to play the Test match. Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar offered him the test cap.
While playing in the test match against New Zealand, Iter became the 16th Indian player to score a century in the debut test match.
Evolution as a player in the national team
Iyer was also the first cricketer to score a century and a fifty in the debut. His evolution as a player in the national team was faster and he kept the graph of his score higher in every form of cricket.
Though he suffered from injuries he has not only recovered fast but also kept scoring runs and getting awards.
5. Shreyas Iyer Profile – Playing Style
Batting technique and strengths
Shreyas Iyer has the higher temperament to mold his game according to the situation. For some, his batting style resembles Dhoni and for a few others Iyer bats like Viru. He had made minor changes in his batting techniques every time he suffered injuries.
Shreyas Iyer holds his bat vertically up at stance by pointing toe-end to the sky. He lifts it further before it comes down and meets the ball with force.
He makes use of the long handle of the bat while forcefully hitting huge sixes. Gavaskar feels that Iyer’s batting technique is similar to the forehand shots of Tennis greats Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Shreyas Iyer created a sensation during the World Cup when he dominated the opposition team while scoring back-to-back hundreds and made the audience go gaga while thrashing towering shots all over the ground.
Fielding skills
Iyer with his flexible movements and athletic skills has always been a good performer on the field. Starting from his debut in the test cricket as a 12th man when he had run out a batsman he had always been considered the most reliable fielder in the close catching positions or while fielding on the boundary line.
Leadership qualities
Shreyas Iyer was fortunate enough to get opportunities to show his leadership qualities at a very early age while playing IPL matches.
His decision-making and his ability to encourage other players have always played an important part in becoming a successful captain.
Also, his free form of batting and his higher performances helped him to gain the required confidence.
Shreyas Iyer became the youngest captain in the history of IPL at the age of 23 years and 142 days.
6. Shreya Iyer Stats and Milestones
Shreyas Iyer has struggled and succeeded while playing domestic, national, and international cricket by fulfilling the goals and reaching the milestones one after the other.
Ranji trophy tournament
- He had played successfully and offered a consistent performance.
- He had performed well to achieve the targets at an early age.
IPL Tournament
- Iyer had made use of every opportunity while playing for Delhi Corporates.
- Iyer had managed the responsibility of a captaincy at a very early age.
- Iyer became the first non-capped player to be auctioned at the highest price.
- Iyer was also top on the list of the most consistent players of the tournament.
- His dashing batting style and his successful batting performance helped him to become a successful captain at a young age.
Centuries and significant innings
- Iyer has played 10 test matches (660 runs) and scored 1 century and 5 fifties.
- He has played 58 ODIs (2331 runs) and scored 5 centuries and 17 fifties.
- He played 49 T20 matches (1043 runs) and scored 7 fifties.
- Some of his significant innings are –
- Iyer made a magnificent 105 runs in just 70 balls in the semi-final against New Zealand in the World Cup tournament.
- Iyer made 128 runs of 84 balls against Netherlands in the World Cup tournament.
Awards and recognitions
Shreyas Iyer with his outstanding batting performance has won Player of the Award 4 times in ODI.
- Scored 80 runs against West Indies at Narendra Modi Stadium.
- Scored 113* runs against South Africa at JSCA International Stadium Complex.
- Scored 105 runs against Australia at Holkar Cricket Stadium.
- Scored 128* runs against the Netherlands at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Notable records
- Shreyas Iyer became the 16th cricketer to score a century on test match debut.
- He became 1st cricketer to score a century in the first inning & half a century in the second inning in the first-ever test match.
- Iyer becomes the third Indian to score two back-to-back centuries in the World Cup tournament.
7. Shreyas Iyer’s Challenges and Comebacks
Shreyas Iyer has faced several challenges even while playing in the IPL and also at national-level tournaments. He has performed well at every stage, starting from college-level competitions, Ranji trophy tournaments, IPL, and national & international-level cricket.
Injuries or setbacks faced
Shreyas Iyer has suffered from a shoulder injury while playing in a cricket match. He has to spend 6 months without playing cricket while treating his dislocated shoulder. The untimely injuries setback his upcoming cricket career seriously.
How he overcame challenges
He also faced issues relating to a back injury for which he has been operated on and treated in England. It was very challenging for Shreyas as he had missed half the season of IPL.
But Shreyas has the willpower to hold himself under such circumstances. He can work hard. Most people have thought that it would be difficult for him to make a comeback into the game after the health issues but Shreyas has bounced back successfully.
Noteworthy comebacks
After getting a serious left shoulder injury Shreyas Iyer had to miss half the season of IPL 2021. But he made a comeback after 6 months and played successfully for Delhi Capitals.
In the next season of IPL 2022, Iyer was brought in auctioned by the KKR for ₹ 12.25 crores and was named captain.
Shreyas Iyer has to leave the match against Australia due to serious back pain. He had to go to England for back surgery and treatment. He missed the ICC Test championship final match.
But after his recovery, he returned to NCA and worked hard to be named in the Indian cricket squad for Asia Cup 2023.
His skillful batting, marked by elegant strokes and smart cricketing acumen, earned him the Player of the Match award.
8. Shreyas Iyer Off the Field
Personal interests and hobbies
Shreyas Iyer and his love for magic is famous among his fans. He makes use of simple magical tricks that keep him active on and off the field. In many of his tricks, his sister Shrestha assists him.
Shreyas uses scientific methods in his performance by having an Ultrahuman M1 wearable arm patch that helps in tracking blood glucose levels as a part of metabolic fitness.
Shreyas Iyer Wife / Girlfriend
Shreyas is a bachelor and he has been seen with a mysterious girl at parties and also in hotels while having dinner. According to confidential reports, the beautiful girl seen with a stylish cricketer and KKR captain is Trisha Kulkarni.
Charity work or social contributions
Shreyas Iyer does his bit by doing charity work and contributing to social service functions. Recently Shreyas was seen playing football with MS Dhoni, and Arjun Kapoor to raise funds for a social cause and a charity.
Media presence and endorsements
Shreyas Iyer has actively participated in various advertisements and he is making brand endorsements for some of the following products such as – BoAt, Fresca Juices, Myprotein, Google Pixel, Manyavar, Dream11, CEAT, etc,.
9. Shreyas Iyer Future Prospects
Goals and aspirations
Shreyas Iyer has become famous for his sensational batting and his long-handled huge hits. He has also shown his outstanding captaincy skills and has huge opportunities in the future.
Iyer will be inspired to lead India in the future successfully and he will break the records set by the great Sachin Tendulkar and King Kohli.
Potential leadership roles
The way he has captained his teams in IPL with ease and understanding, it shows that he has a higher temperament, a better understanding of the game, and superior technique to manage the players & situations.
Shreyas will become captain of the Indian team and will win many more matches and cups in the future.
Anticipated contributions to Indian cricket
It can be anticipated that Shreyas Iyer will offer more than expected to the Indian Cricket. His unique batting style, his ability to play fast & spin bowling, and his strong mindset will push Indian cricket forward by offering excellent services for the nation & for the game.
10. Shreyas Iyer Legacy
Impact on Indian cricket
Shreyas Iyer is a special cricketer who has scored a century and a fifty in both innings of his debut match and who has taken the challenge of leading his team at the young age of 23 years successfully.
The charismatic batter with a mindful approach will have a huge influence on the cricket arena and his impact will help build a better & brighter future for the cricket and for the cricket lovers.
Influence on aspiring cricketers
The cricketers like Shreyas Iyer are not made but they are born to win. His skillful approach and majestic batting will inspire and inspire many young players and motivate them to follow in his footsteps.
Enduring contributions to the sport
Shreyas Iyer has always contributed to the game of cricket whenever he has been a part of it. His positive mindset has always supported his teammates while facing any situation. His ability to convert every opportunity into a success story makes his contributions very special.
Recap of Shreyas Iyer’s journey
Shreyas Iyer has a dream and he has worked hard, facing challenges & injuries that helped him to achieve his goals. Iyer has worked from one milestone to another, working hard, learning at every stage, and crossing every level.
He started playing from college to Ranji trophies to IPL matches then into ODI matches and finally into the tests. It was his hard work, his strong mindset, and his skillful approach that made him a successful cricketer today.
Current status and outlook for the future
Presently, Iyer has settled at the number 4 position in the team and makes sure to remain in the center of team efforts by supporting batters of lower order to move forward from where the openers have left.
Closing remarks
When you say that the Indian cricket team has a bright future, then it is the capability and caliber of players like Shreyas Iyer that can help the team to perform better and better to reach the targets and to achieve the goals.
