Shreyas Iyer‘s cricketing journey is a testament to patience, untapped potential, and the ability to seize opportunities when they finally arrive. While the world now recognizes him as a promising talent, his path to success has been paved with challenges and perseverance. He will play a crucial role in the ODI World Cup 2023.
Shreyas will play in the middle order at 4 or 5. A wonderful player of spin, Shreyas is a treat to watch when on song. In a recent interview for BCCI, Shreyas was thrilled to play for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Shreyas Iyer said “It’s fantastic to see the ICC World Cup logo in my jersey, I have only seen it on TV, I am so happy to be part of this team”.
Shreyas was destined for greatness from a young age. In the mid-2000s, his father, Santosh, took him from their Worli residence to the revered Shivaji Park Gymkhana (SPG). The coaching trio of Pravin Amre, Padmakar Shivalkar, and Sandesh Kawle at SPG recognized the potential in the 11-year-old, but they had already selected their batch of 25 players for the year. Undeterred, Shreyas waited patiently and was selected the following year. This marked the beginning of his journey towards cricketing excellence.
Under the guidance of Shivalkar and Kawle, with Amre closely monitoring his progress, Shreyas showed rapid improvement. However, it’s important to note that he didn’t always stand out, even during his early years. It was Vinod Raghavan, Mumbai’s Under-19 coach in 2013-14, who played a pivotal role in Shreyas’ career. Raghavan’s influence led to Shreyas becoming the captain of the Mumbai U-19 team.
In 2014, Pravin Amre, now the Mumbai head coach, played a significant role in Shreyas’ journey. Despite his reputation as a top-order batsman, Shreyas was initially asked to bat at No. 7 in his first three Ranji Trophy matches. When Amre was looking for a new No. 3, he approached Siddhesh Lad, but Lad declined. Shreyas, on the other hand, embraced the challenge and scored a remarkable century against Bengal, proving his capacity to handle challenges.
Shreyas’ journey continued with the support of Abhishek Nayar, a senior teammate with whom he formed a close bond. Their relationship evolved from teammates to mentors, and their commitment to the game extended to fitness and even dancing.
Shreyas made headlines when the Delhi Daredevils acquired him for Rs. 2.60 crore in the 2015 IPL auction. Despite limited T20 experience, he repaid the faith by scoring 439 runs in his debut season and was named the most promising youngster.
Amre’s involvement continued as he convinced the Daredevils management of Shreyas’ capabilities to handle raw pace. Shreyas’ success in the IPL further solidified his reputation as a promising talent.
In 2020, Shreyas was named the captain of the Delhi Capitals. He invited Amre for dinner, setting a condition that he would only accept the invitation after Shreyas scored a Test hundred. In December 2021, Shreyas marked his Test debut with a century, fulfilling the condition and making his mentor proud.
Shreyas Iyer’s journey is a story of patience, perseverance, and the ability to make the most of opportunities when they finally arrive. The question now is whether he can maintain this trait on the grand stage of the ICC World Cup.
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