Shreyas Iyer : An Interview with the Emerging Star of Indian Cricket

Shreyas Iyer : An Interview with the Emerging Star of Indian Cricket: If you have 809 runs as a top order batsman in your maiden season at domestic cricket and follow it up with another impressive show at the Indian Premier League (IPL) with 439 runs in 14 games, not only the fans but cricket Experts and the Pundits of the game also start to take note of the performances. All that at the age of 20, and one would definitely earn the regards of being an Emerging star. These numbers are of the boy from Mumbai, Shreyas Iyer, who debuted this season for Mumbai in First Class cricket and was picked by the Delhi Daredevils at the pre-season auction for 2.6Cr. His characteristic show earned him the Emerging Player of the IPL 2015 Award.

In a forthright chat with Cricket Tracker’s Ankit Mishra, Shreyas Iyer talks about his cricket, the Mumbai Ranji Team, Delhi Daredevils, his Coach Pravin Amre and lots more.   

Here Goes the interview with Shreyas Iyer.

To start with tell me how different was playing in the IPL than the Ranji Trophy or other domestic tournaments, regardless of the format?

The IPL was really different from domestic cricket; in the IPL we have world class bowler’s bowling at us which is not the case in domestic tournaments. The level of bowling is not as good in there as much as it is in the IPL.

While you were picked by the Daredevils, what were your expectations and aspirations as to what the IPL would bring to you?     

The expectations were high, as I was pretty confident of making it to the playing XI, since I was carrying good form from domestic matches and had done well in the practice games that we played ahead of the season. Along with that, since the management had bid a big amount for me at the auction I was sure, that they see me as a part of their plan and I will have a role to play.

Yuvraj Singh and JP Duminy have been all praises for you as the season progressed, does that help your confidence or adds to the pressure of coming true to the expectations every time you take guard?

It feels nice, they are amazing players, have been doing the job for the country and teams across various formats for years now and when these guys speak of you with high regards it feels nice.

How was it to outperform most of the senior pro’s that were there at the DD franchise alongside you?

Frankly I was not thinking about outperforming anyone, my focus was to go out there every time, score runs and do the job for my team.

What role has Pravin Amre played, first as your Coach, while you were just 12, then with the Mumbai team and now in the Daredevils camp as well?

I first met Pravin Sir at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana while I was just 12, I trained under him there. But we lost touch for a while, I am back with him for some time now; he has not only been my Coach but is my backbone. Sir makes sure he watches all my games and makes it a point that I am aware of the mistakes that I committed, or the technical flaws that were there in my game. With the Mumbai team and also at the Daredevils he has been alongside me and has proved to be a huge help.

Whenever I feel something is not going right for me, I approach him and he certainly has a solution to the problems. He is someone who is really good with the technical aspects of the games and has worked with various international players to help them seal their techniques and the issues that they face.

The Ranji Season with Mumbai started at a forgettable note as the team first lost to J&K at home and then went down against the Railways as well, from that position you guys made it to the Semi-finals, what inspired the team to stage the remarkable comeback that it did?

Yes we had a forgettable start, but it was a completely new set-up, most of the guys were playing together and for Mumbai for the first time, so it took us some time to gel as a unit. But despite of failing early and with the challenge of having a new squad to play with, we did really well to surprise everyone by making it to the semi-finals. The team did have this belief that we could do well and once the boys settled in, it started to translate for us with results.

Who does Shreyas Iyer idolize as a batsman and a cricketer?

Nobody particularly, I just want to be myself and play the cricket that I have learned and that’s all.

How interesting was it to share the dressing room and field space with the guys like Yuvraj and Duminy, Zaheer Khan who was also the mentor of the side?

Yes, it was a great experience, to play alongside these guys; though Zak bhai joined us at the later stage it was good to have him there to guide the boys. There was lot to learn from these guys and a priceless experience for the youngsters in the team.

Did you have enough interactions with Gary Kirsten, of course we all know he is a guy who likes the player’s to grow in their own flow and is there in the background as the support?

We met at the pre-season camps and that was when Gary told me to be myself and play my natural game while on the field. He gave me complete freedom to assess the situation and plan my game; I was allowed to do it the way I thought was best for me and in favor of the team.

At the start of the season DD looked to have a really good team on paper along with an excellent coach, what do you feel went wrong, so much so that the team really struggled to win and were placed towards the bottom of the table?

I believe the team failed to get the combinations right. Also there might have been some tough calls to make with the playing XI. I and Mayank got good starts in the first few games but in the later stage we failed to click together. But once Zak bhai returned I believe we started doing well, the bowling department looked in a different horizon since his inclusion.

What are the experiences and understanding that you take back from this year’s IPL?

I take lot of understandings from the IPL, from the interactions and experiences I have gained while playing or chatting with some of the international players. I will take this along with me and share it with the younger players; also put these ideas forward to my Mumbai teammates.

JP Duminy said he told you on your face that he sees you as a part of the Indian team in coming two years, how did you react to it?

It was before the start of the season and is something I know and believe will happen soon; I just need to keep going and will surely get a call up for the Indian team.

You have now had an exposure in the longer format with the Ranji trophy; you have played One Dayer’s at the U-19 level and now T20s with the IPL. Understanding your natural game, which is the format that makes you feel at home?

I love and enjoy playing at all the three formats, and I want to play and do well in the shorter versions and in days’ cricket as well.

Which bating position do you prefer; you started in the middle order for Mumbai and were then promoted to number 3, while you played all the matches as an opener for DD?

I prefer playing at number 3, but at the same time I would like to open in the shorter formats, so number 3 for days’ cricket and as an opener in 50 over games and T20’s.

How pleasing was it when you were awarded the Emerging Player of the IPL 2015?

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It was really pleasing, to be declared the Emerging Player of the year, with all the senior players looking at me, recognizing and appreciating my contribution I was glad to receive the award.

Where do you see yourself in the coming year, does a call from the Indian Selectors for the Zimbabwe series look close?
That is something for the selectors to decide my focus will be to play my game and keep scoring runs, that is what I can do and I need not worry about selection as that isn’t my part and if I do well it is going to happen.