Mumbai: Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has reflected on his remarkable return to international cricket this year, speaking candidly about the lows of being left out of the BCCI Central Contracts list and the discipline that helped him rebuild his career through domestic cricket.
Iyer, who was instrumental in India’s ICC Champions Trophy triumph, finished as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer with 243 runs in five innings at an average of 48.60, including two half-centuries and a top score of 79. His stellar performance earned him a special memento at the CEAT Cricket Ratings Awards in Mumbai, marking yet another highlight in a dream comeback season that saw India lift their second consecutive ICC white-ball title after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Recalling his journey from rejection to redemption — during which he also led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title, and helped Mumbai clinch both the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy — Iyer described the past year as a “rollercoaster ride”.
“Things looked in shambles and helter-skelter earlier. But I told myself to stay disciplined, follow a routine, and focus on domestic cricket,” Iyer said. “Playing the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Mumbai helped me regain momentum and confidence before the Champions Trophy. Then came the ODIs against England, where I got the chance to make a statement.”
In that England series, Iyer amassed 181 runs in three matches at an average above 60 and a strike rate exceeding 123, including two fifties.
Sharing his approach to one-day cricket, Iyer said he thrives under pressure.
“In the Champions Trophy, my role was to stabilize the innings early on and then accelerate when needed. In Dubai, we knew 250–300 was a winning total, so my goal was to take the team there. With the kind of bowling attack we had, there was complete belief that we could defend or chase any target.”
Addressing long-standing criticism of his weakness against short-pitched bowling, Iyer said he worked relentlessly to silence his doubters.
“People kept saying I couldn’t play a certain shot — the pull shot, especially. I took that personally. I worked hard, practiced against quality fast bowlers, and when I faced guys like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood this year, I backed myself to take them on. The more you face those challenges in practice, the more confident you become.”
Iyer will next feature in India’s three-match ODI series against Australia, starting October 19. He has previously played three ODIs in Australia, scoring 59 runs at an average of 19.66.
So far in 2025, Iyer has scored 424 runs in eight ODIs at an average of 53.00 and a strike rate of 93.59, with four fifties — a testament to his consistency and renewed confidence at the crease.
