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Once Rejected By Masses, Shreyas Iyer Forces Cricketing Gods To Re-Write His Destiny

Debashis Sarangi

Shreyas Iyer has been outstanding as a batter and captain of late [Source: AP]Shreyas Iyer has been outstanding as a batter and captain of late [Source: AP]

From outside, Cricket may seem just like a casual sport meant for leisure, but it’s actually not less than a war for those who are actively involved in it. When two teams collide in a cricket field, whatever happens on that 22-yard-long strip holds paramount importance not only for them but also their players. 

As cricket is no less than a war of tactics and skills, the players can be no less than warriors who bring different skillsets to the table. Now imagine the situation of a warrior aka cricketer whose limitations are well-known to the opposition. The helplessness not only lets his team down but also earns him backlash and scrutiny from all over the world. 

Central Contract Snub: Shreyas Iyer's Fall From Grace

Not long ago, when India took on England in the fifth Test at Edgbaston, the English head coach Brendon McCullum ordered his troops to execute the short-ball ploy as soon as Shreyas Iyer entered the middle. The result wasn’t surprising, as Iyer once again fell into the trap on the expected lines. 

Soon McCullum was hailed for his cricketing genius although he had passed quite an obvious strategy from the English dugout. But from Iyer’s perspective, the blow was fatal for his international career, throwing light on his inability to tackle short balls, a skill that most of the modern-day Indian batters ace at. 

Although Iyer had played some game-breaking knocks under pressure, his persistent woes against body-line bowling grabbed more attention than his past heroics. Thus, eventually, when the BCCI snubbed him from the central contracts despite his World Cup exploits, nobody batted an eyelid. 

A Comeback That Turned Haters Into Admirers

Shreyas Iyer with Champions Trophy [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X]Shreyas Iyer with Champions Trophy [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X]

People may wonder how Shreyas Iyer could always step up in crunch situations despite having an evident flaw in his technique vs pace. 

Be it a whirlwind 70-ball 105 in the semifinal or a valiant 77 against the mighty Proteas on a tricky Eden Gardens deck, Iyer showcased exceptional adaptability and maturity, two core ingredients to succeed as a cricketer at international level. 

His self-confidence makes him the batter he is, and this is precisely what kept him going at his worst when he vowed to bounce back after being ignored in the national contract.

When temperament meets sheer hard work, destiny has no option but to turn its head with a sweet smile. 

In came the Champions Trophy and Iyer’s bat did the talking. But most importantly, his dominance against the short ball was there for everyone to see. 

The warrior in him had conquered his biggest nemesis, and now, it was his time to bear the fruit for all his noble deeds as India’s most reliable number four ODI batter. 243 runs at an average of 48.60; Iyer established himself as the fulcrum of the Indian batting unit on a track where even the mightiest struggled to get going. 

What followed next was nothing but the result of his perseverance, as he received the prestigious ICC player of the month award soon after powering India to a Champions Trophy triumph after 12 long years. 

India Captaincy On The Cards Amid IPL 2025 Heroics?

Shreyas Iyer’s leadership qualities were noticed for the first time when he changed the fortunes of Delhi Capitals as a skipper in 2018. He took Kolkata Knight Riders to new heights, propelling them to their third IPL trophy, one which they celebrated for the first time in ten years. 

And now, his partnership with Ricky Ponting has proved to be a match made in heaven, with the duo keeping Punjab Kings in the playoffs race with shrewd tactics and masterful execution. 

Last night, when PBKS defended the lowest total in IPL history, their performance reflected nothing but Iyer’s never-say-die attitude. With competitors like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal entering the race for team India’s leadership, Iyer has quietly thrown his hat into the ring, peaking as a batter and a captain just at the right time. 

The journey to the throne is still a long way to go. It doesn’t really matter if he succeeds Rohit Sharma as the Indian captain. However, one thing is for sure; from now onwards, Mumbai cricket will celebrate Shreyas Iyer’s temperament as much as they have done it for Tendulkar’s batsmanship and Rohit’s flamboyance.