Shreyas Iyer, who wasn’t initially a definite choice for India’s Champions Trophy team, has proven himself to be a dependable number 4 batsman. Despite facing uncertainty before the England ODI series leading up to the Champions Trophy, Iyer has consistently performed well, demonstrating his value in the 50-over format. Following his impressive 79 runs against New Zealand on Sunday, Iyer acknowledged significant personal growth over the past year and a half, which he is now capitalizing on.
Despite a strong showing in the 2023 ODI World Cup, there were reports suggesting Iyer’s place in the Champions Trophy playing XI wasn’t guaranteed. However, he overcame this challenge and solidified his position in the middle order.
After the match against New Zealand, Iyer stated that he understands the need to take responsibility for his own performance, rather than depending on external support. He believes in a ‘you vs you’ mentality, recognizing that ultimately, he is responsible for his own success.
Iyer shared that this period has been a significant learning experience, teaching him the importance of self-reliance. He realized that while a few close individuals will offer support, in tough times, athletes must primarily depend on themselves. He emphasized the importance of self-belief and trusting his instincts in every situation. He credits this mindset, along with technical improvements, for his success over the last year and a half. Iyer also mentioned focusing on the present and not dwelling on past events.
Iyer also highlighted his valuable partnership with Axar Patel, which helped stabilize the Indian innings after the early loss of top-order batsmen.
He noted that the ball was initially slow to come onto the bat, making it crucial to build a partnership. He praised Axar Patel’s important contribution of 40 runs, contributing to a near 100-run partnership, which was vital at that stage. Iyer explained their mindset was to keep the score moving and capitalize on boundary opportunities to regain momentum.
