Shreyas Iyer signs deal with IMG Reliance; joins the elite company of Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah

Team India’s middle-order batsman, Shreyas Iyer has seen his stock rise steadily in the past two years. The right-hander seems to have added another feather to his cap with IMG Reliance adding the Indian batting sensation to the list which includes the likes of Rohit Sharma, superstar fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and the flamboyant Pandya brothers- Hardik and Krunal. IMG Reliance will be handling Iyer’s commercial interests besides building his overall brand.

Iyer, who was a part of the 2014 U19 team, won the IPL emerging player award in 2017 and is widely considered as the solution of India’s long-standing middle-order woes thanks to his fearless as well as solid style of play. The right-hander became the fourth-youngest play to lead an Indian Premier League side when he was given the responsibility of leading a struggling Delhi Capitals (Daredevils then) side in the 2018 edition of the cash-rich league. 

Shreyas Iyer excited about signing up with IMG Reliance

While the 2018 season ended in disappointment, Iyer gave an account of his precocious leadership skills in the succeeding season where he led the Capitals into the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Iyer made full of the opportunities that he got for the national side during India’s tour of the Caribbean earlier this year, scoring not only back-to-back half-centuries but also displaying his temperament to the hilt, forcing the team management to consider him as a viable option for the No.4 spot.

Speaking on the collaboration, Shreyas expressed great excitement for being associated with a brand like IMG Reliance and is looking forward to a fruitful relationship. “I am really excited to be associated with IMG Reliance. They are one of the biggest names in the industry and with their experience in handling other stalwarts in Indian cricket, I look forward to a fruitful partnership with them,” Iyer said as quoted by Outlook.

Nikhil Bardia, Head of Sales of IMG Reliance noted, “We are delighted to welcome Shreyas on board the IMG Reliance family, adding to our bunch of world-class talents. He is a strong competitor on the pitch and stands out as an ambitious and confident individual off it. He represents young India with his fearless attitude coupled with the combination of confidence and humility. One of the brightest prospects in Indian Cricket with a rapidly increasing fan base, Shreyas promises to be a strong pillar in the Indian batting line-up and we are happy to partner with him in his journey.”

Shreyas will have another opportunity to further solidify his spot in the Indian white-ball set-up when the national side squares off against Bangladesh next month.