Published: Apr 07, 2016, 11:06 AM (IST)
Edited: Apr 07, 2016, 11:26 AM (IST)
Mumbai cricket has been fortunate enough to have the young and upcoming Shreyas Iyer in their team. who was a saving grace in the 2014-15 season which was a disappointment. Coming into the 2015-16 Ranjit Trophy season for Mumbai, Shreyas became a pillar of strength for them where he finished as the teams highest run getter with 809 runs at 50.56 average, which included two centuries and six fifties last year, while this year he finished with 1,321 runs from 11 matches at an astounding average of 73.38 helping his team to a record 41st title. Shreyas who was purchased by Delhi Daredevils for just Rs 2.6 crore in an exclusive interview to Times of India spoke about various issues ranging from upcoming IPL 9 season, India ambitions and how was DD helped him in his growth as a player. He emphasized about how IPL is a perfect platform to propel one into national reckoning. ALSO READ: Delhi Daredevils team in IPL 2016 Preview: Zaheer Khan led squad looks to break the jinx in IPL 9
Shreyas first-up was asked about what expectations did he have after a successful first Ranji trophy season with Mumbai. Shreyas said “To play the same way I did last season. People didn’t believe that the season would go this well for a debutante who scored 800 runs in his first season. They thought that the first season was good so the second one will be tough, because the opposition will be ready and will come at me with certain plans. There were things said like this, but I think I’ve proved them wrong. It was really satisfying.”
On being asked about from does in bring his attacking nature to his batting, Shreyas was quick to respond,” I believe it’s been there from the start. Whenever I used to play matches as a child, I used to dominate bowlers. I never liked to play slow cricket. I back my instincts and look to play positively from the first ball, whatever the situation is. Even if we are 20 for 2, I just look to go out and back myself to score fast and score big. Play my natural game, don’t let the bowlers get on top of me. That’s how it comes.” ALSO READ: Delhi Daredevils team and schedule in IPL 2016: DD squad and match details for IPL 9
Shreyas further added, “Yes. I like to take risks. I believe that if you take risks, you are either going to open the door or fail. There are more chances of passing through that door if you take risks. If you back yourself, you are going to succeed more than you will fail. That’s what I believe and that’s what I look to adopt when I am at the crease.”
ON being aksed which among all his 2015-16 centuries was his best, Shreyas was quick to mention his hundred against Saurashtra. “The hundred against Saurashtra on day two of the final, which was my fourth of the season. That helped Mumbai win the Ranji Trophy, so it felt really good. It was the icing on the cake. Also, getting a double hundred against Punjab because I had never done that in my career. I’d never managed to reach the target of scoring 200 so that was kind of satisfying to do that,” Shreyas stated.
Shreyas scored the third-fastest double-century in Ranji Trophy, which came off just 175 balls. Speaking on that Shreyas said,” I was going in a good flow, so I felt like just keeping it going and see where things went. I got a good partnership with Suryakumar Yadav, who also got a hundred, and that helped. It was good going by both of us, the scoreboard was moving on and we were playing good strokes. It felt like a good day.” ALSO READ: IPL 2016: Delhi Daredevils mentor Rahul Dravid says he never judges player on auction prices
Speaking on his IPL journey Shreyas said,” After the IPL I gained a lot of confidence and then went and played India A matches. I got chances but didn’t use them as best I could, which was disappointing. I got thirties and forties but wasn’t able to convert them into big scores, so I was disappointed because the season was nearing. But having Rahul Dravid around [as coach of India A] was a great inspiration for me. He gave me positive feedback regarding how to pursue my success in further seasons. It was a great confidence booster when he came to me from the first day and shared tips, and then crucially guided me in how to approach my second season of Ranji Trophy cricket.”
Shreyas had a good first season for DD, which game him a platform to make a name for himself. “It was a great platform for me, being picked up for such a big amount and living up to those expectations. If you are paid so much, you are expected to score a good number of runs. I think I lived up to those expectations and the experience was very good,” he added.
“We had Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan and JP Duminy and all of them were very helpful to the youngsters in the team. Whenever we had any doubts we would go to them and they never hesitated in giving us tips regarding training, technique and the matches, so overall it was a great experience. I think the pressure wasn’t there much on me. I could play with freedom. That came from the room that the coach and players gave me, right from the practice games. The main thing was to perform in the practice games, which I did. I made my mark in the teams from those matches,” he stated.
On being aksed how has IPL changed his attitude, Shreyas added, ” I think the IPL has built up a lot of confidence in youngsters. Once you play Under-19 cricket for India, you know you can get into the IPL and performing at
