I feel I should have been in the team way earlier: Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer is one of the cricketers who has come along from the U-19 India setup. He appeared in the 2014 U-19 World Cup with the likes of Sanju Samson and Kuldeep Yadav. After that tournament, he went straight into domestic cricket and got a few opportunities in the Indian Premier League. He made a lot of runs and suddenly there was a lot of talk about getting him into the Indian team. 

However, it took him some time to make his way up into the national set-up and seal a spot for himself. While he was smashing all opponents in Ranji Trophy cricket, a settled Indian middle-order didn’t allow him to make a cut. He eventually made his debut in 2017 but didn’t get regular opportunities until late 2019. 

During this phase, Iyer had said in 2018 that he has become emotionless from the inside and doesn’t think too much about selection. In a recent interaction with the youtube channel, the Grade Cricketers, the Mumbai batsman revealed what he actually meant by that. In doing so, he expressed that he feels he should have been in the Indian team before a lot of other players, a statement which he has given publicly before as well. 

My job is to score runs, go out there and perform and entertain people: Shreyas Iyer

“Yeah, I always take that attitude towards selection. I always felt that I should have been in the team way earlier. Right now, I feel I am way sorted in my mindset. I think that the selection point is not in my hand. My job is to score runs. Go out there and perform and entertain people. That is what I think about, every time I step onto the field,” Iyer said. 

The 26-year-old, who is currently away from the Indian team due to a serious shoulder injury, said that his revived mindset has helped him a lot. “That sort of mindset has really helped me. It helps me get away from envying others, feeling bad about myself as well. I have overgrown from that. Whenever I think about selection because I know I am going to be there,” Iyer added. 

Interestingly, Iyer’s numbers in first-class cricket are pretty good. He has played 54 matches and scored 4592 runs at an average of 52.18. He was one of the top run-getters in a few Ranji Trophy seasons but failed to make a cut to the Indian Test team. However, he remains an important part of India’s white-ball plans.