he young and talented
Shreyas Iyer needs no
introduction to cricket
aficionados. Captain of
the Delhi Capitals in
the IPL, Iyer’s talent was
spotted at age 12, and he
was often compared to
cricketer Virender
Sehwag by his teammates.
Since making his debut in 2014, Iyer
has scored upwards of 700 runs in each
of the last three Ranji Trophy seasons.
In 2015-16, at a stellar average of 73.39,
he scored 1,321 runs, becoming the top
scorer of that Ranji season. In DecemberTHE BIG STORY
2017, he was selected for the Indian T20
team. With a spectacular batting average
of 52.18 in first-class cricket, the Mumbai
batsman has contributed to several match
wins, especially at the recently concluded
IPL. The fact that he was retained as the
Delhi Capitals captain spoke of his calibre
and ability to lead the team. And lead
he did, until the semi-finals. Over to the
young sportsman:How did your interest in
cricket take a strong form?
My father used to play cricket with my
sister and me at home. We used to watch
matches at the stadium, where seeingPHOTOGRAPH: ROHAN SHRESTHAgreats like Sourav Ganguly and Sachin
Tendulkar inspired me.How did you get your first break?
The selectors first witnessed my
performance in the UK, where I was
playing club cricket. Later, I was a part
of the India Under-19 cricket team and
played Under-19 World Cup in 2014. Post
that, I participated in the Buchi Babu
Tournament in Chennai, where I scored
a century in the only match I played.
That was my turning point because I got
selected for the Ranji Trophy.What was it like being snapped
up for the IPL in 2015?
I was shocked at the bid! I was expecting
a bid of `80 lakh. I was in Orissa, playing
a match, when the auction started. I was
sitting in the dugout when a teammate
said I’d been bid on for `2.6 crore. At
first, I thought it was a joke, but yes, it
felt great!Last year, you became the
youngest captain to lead the
Delhi IPL team. How did it feel?
Being a young captain is definitely
a challenge. When I came on board,
the team had won only one game out of
the seven we played, and both fans and
players were disappointed. I wanted to
come in and change everything, and
I think it brought out the best in me.Share some memorable moments
playing for India.
My first Test match for India was
memorable. Every player dreams of
representing the country in a Test
match. I went in as a substitute and got
run out, but even contributing that bit
when I wasn’t supposed to be playing,
felt out of the world!Do you feel you achieved what
you had aimed for in the IPL?
No. I was aiming to win!What’s next?
What every cricketer’s dream is: I want
to be consistent in the Indian team, seal
my position, and never get out of it.Shreyas Iyer has emerged as a cricketer with a great batting average
despite ups and downs. He speaks to Neeti Jaychander about his first
break, captaincy of the Delhi Capitals, and moreTHE UNDERDOG
EVERY PLAYER
DREAMS OF
REPRESENTING
THE COUNTRY IN
A TEST MATCH.