Published: Sep 07, 2015, 09:04 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 07, 2015, 07:15 PM (IST)
Shreyas Iyer, without a shadow of a doubt is one of the bright prospects of Indian cricket. Having scored 809 runs at 50.56, including two tons and six fifties in his first season for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy last season, the 20-year old is all geared up for the next season, which begins from October 1. He was also the highest paid uncapped player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015 auction, with Delhi Daredevils (DD) acquiring his services for Rs. 2.6 crores. Pramod Ananth caught up with Shreyas and spoke to him about his past year, his time under Rahul Dravid in India A and more.
Cricket Country (CC): Not many know this, but you had a brief stint in England even before you made your Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai where you played for Clifton Village Cricket Club in Nottingham. Can you share how was experience like?
Shreyas Iyer (SI): After the Under-19, I straight away went to Clifton. It was a really nice experience. I was staying alone over there, I had to take care by myself cook by myself, to travel by myself; no one was there to help me out, except my roommate. He used to come out at 5 O’ clock in the evening after his work, only then I used to roam around. So, it was a really difficult life at the start, but as soon I started performing well, people started knowing me over there, pay a visit there, take me [to] some places, otherwise I used to spend time by myself. It was a really nice experience. I groomed very well as an individual and I got more mature after that.
CC: You had a terrific debut in the Ranji Trophy previous season. How are you and the team preparing for the upcoming season, which starts in less than a month now?
SI: I think we are really preparing well. We are going to Lonavala for a boot camp. It is a team activity to build Mumbai team. We recently won the Buchi Babu tournament and I was playing for India A at that time and I’m really happy that we started on a good note, winning a trophy. It will really help us to perform in the Ranji Trophy.
CC: How is it to have Rahul Dravid as your coach in India A? What sort of advice has he given you?
SI: Rahul Dravid is a nice coach and is really good in giving you tips. I asked him how to look upon the coming season. He [told, you] to just concentrate on your process, what you did last year, just stick to that and everything will fall into place. You don’t have to think about runs. You have scored so many runs in the first season. You don’t have to think much about that, just play on your instinct, back your abilities, you know you have talent and just stick to your process. That’s what he said.
CC: Your batting order has often been juggled with in First-Class cricket so far. Which position are you most comfortable batting at? Have you spoken to your captain about this?
SI: Well, I got No.3 last season. I batted at No.7 as well. No.3 is the best position to bat and I love to bat there. In India A against South Africa A I was promoted to No.3 from No.5. But unfortunately, I had split web (so could not play in the second match). I was really unhappy. I see opportunity in every difficulty and I love accepting challenges. So, when I was promoted to No.3, I was happy that the coaches believe in me.
CC: You won the Emerging player of the year in IPL 2015 and you were one of the most consistent players in the tournament. Can you walk us through the experience of playing in the tournament with stars like Yuvraj Singh, JP Duminy , etc?
SI: Experience was really good. I never thought I will share the dressing rooms with such superstars so soon. But I was sure that I will make it to this level very early. When I was in UK, people used to ask me when I would play in the IPL. I literally told them that next season you will watch me on TV. But when I got into the team I was thinking back on it. During that time I didn’t realise that I’d told them.
CC: Pravin Amre is someone who has had a major impact on your cricket since school. How was it to have him as one of the coaches in the Delhi Daredevils (DD) camp as well?
SI: [I] was really lucky to have him as coach. He is really good in diagnosing a problem. He is always there whenever you need him. So, I was really lucky to have him in Ranji Trophy also in IPL. He is one of the best coaches Mumbai has ever produced. He has many players working with him.
CC: You picked up your first two First-Class wickets in the match against South Africa A. How often do you practice bowling in the nets and how would you rate them? Did your stint at Clifton help in this regard?
SI: Before the match started I was practicing. I was showing Rahul Dravid sir that I can bowl in the match. He said, “First-Class wickets coming soon”. He said you’ll get your First-Class wicket in Ranji Trophy. I was thinking in mind, in truth it could happen tomorrow. I didn’t tell him that. He would have felt I was over-confident. But in my mind [I was thinking] tomorrow I will take wickets. Fortunately, I got two wickets on the second day. I got 20 wickets at Clifton with leg-spin and off-spin, where the limit for every bowler was 15 overs. I scored a century too. Out of the 11 matches, three matches were washed out.
CC: Dravid had recently said that youngsters like yourself today want to play the longer format in an era where T20 is grabbing eyeballs all around. Do you agree with him? Is playing Test cricket for India your main aim too?
SI: Test cricket is the best format of the game. I want to play all three formats. So, I really don’t think I have to stick to one format. I’ve decided that I will keep going for all three formats.
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
