Shreyas Iyer, fresh off ending a three-year drought for a domestic red-ball century, has his sights firmly set on a return to India’s Test squad. The 29-year-old Mumbai batter scored an impressive 142 off 190 balls, featuring 12 fours and four sixes, during Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match against Maharashtra. His innings, played at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai, came after a prolonged wait since his last first-class hundred in November 2021 against New Zealand.
Driven by desire to return for Shreyas Iyer
Speaking to the media after his innings, Shreyas Iyer made it clear that a comeback to the Indian Test side remains his top priority. “Absolutely! That’s why I’ve been playing. I mean, or else I would have given a reason and sat out,” Iyer remarked when asked if he was still eager to don the white jersey for India. He emphasised that his focus is on controlling what he can: “I am absolutely keen for a comeback, but yes, as we say, control the controllables. My job is to keep performing and keep participating as much as possible and also see that my body is in the best shape.”
This century was Iyer’s first in first-class cricket since his Test debut in 2021. His last near miss came in the Ranji Trophy final, where he fell short of a hundred, dismissed on 95. Understandably, Iyer felt a sense of relief after finally crossing the three-figure mark. “Yes, it feels special. Coming back after a very long time, obviously I was feeling a bit down with my injuries, but now getting a century after a long time, it’s a great feeling.”
Approach and stratergy
Describing his innings, Shreyas Iyer revealed how he had to adjust to the defensive fields set by the opposition. “Nowadays, teams put a defensive field right from ball one. So, I was just trying to take some time, play more balls than scoring shots. That was my plan—play session by session and see how much my body could take.”
Iyer also credited his batting partner, Ayush Mhatre, who scored 176, for making his own innings easier. “The way Ayush batted, he took away the rest of the bowlers, and they were a bit down. So, for me to just take singles became easier.”
No injury worries for Shreyas Iyer
One of the biggest hurdles Iyer has had to overcome is his serious back injury, which required major surgery in London last year. The injury had initially caused fears of a recurrence, especially after prolonged periods at the crease. “There was this phase where I was feeling that it might occur again,” he admitted. “But yes, I trained a lot to ensure optimum fitness. Now my capacity has improved a lot.”
Iyer’s focus on long-distance running and intensive training has been a crucial part of his recovery. “I improved my long-distance running to increase my patience for the longer format. I stressed my body with 400 and 800-metre runs, pushing my limits to ensure I was at my best fitness possible,” he explained. While he acknowledges the occasional tightness in his back, Iyer confidently stated, “Of course no, it’s completely fine.”
What’s ahead?
With this century under his belt and renewed confidence in his fitness, Shreyas Iyer is keen to prove himself and make a strong case for his return to India’s Test side. His focus on preparation, both physically and mentally, has set him on a determined path as he eyes a comeback on the international stage.
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