Whenever I open Team India's Instagram page, I feel that I need to be part of the Test team: Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer has emerged as a regular face in India’s limited-overs game for the last couple of years. The right-handed batter can score runs rapidly and his knack of staying the crease for long makes him even more lethal. Many even believe that Iyer has ended Team India’s long quest for a formidable number in white-ball cricket. So far, the young batter has slammed 813 and 550 runs in 22 ODIs and 28 T20Is respectively.

This also includes 11 half-centuries and a brilliant hundred. While Iyer is undoubtedly determined to continue his sensational run in limited-overs cricket, he plans to thrive in the longest format as well.  Iyer, who averages 52.18 in First-Class cricket, reckoned he has all the attributes to shine in Test cricket and he can fit in the current Indian batting line-up.

I can be part of the team: Shreyas Iyer

“Whenever I open Indian cricket team’s page on Instagram, I personally feel that I need to be part of the (Test) team because my journey started from red ball and my Ranji Trophy, my India A all have been really smooth so far,” Iyer said in an interaction with Sports Today

“So I personally feel that I can be part of the team and I would help them definitely be as consistent as they’ve been going right now and it’s definitely every kid’s dream to play all three formats and very soon it will happen,” he added.

Speaking of the challenges of Test cricket, Iyer said the purest format of the game tests an individual’s physical and mental strength. However, the 26-year-old is confident of embracing the challenges, having done well in First-Class cricket.

“Definitely it tests you mentally and physically both because five days standing on the ground, it’s not easy to us I’ve done that in the past definitely and we know we used to play back-to-back eight games in Ranji Trophy and after that, if we reach the finals we end up playing 11 games so that mental toughness takes a lot of toll on your mind,” Iyer further said.

“Definitely this is totally a different level and especially the way Indian team is going on right now. I personally feel it would be fun to be part of that team,” he added. Meanwhile, Iyer has been out of action after sustaining a shoulder injury during the ODI series against England in March this year. However, the star batsman is fit now and is gearing up to play for Delhi Capitals in the second leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.