India‘s latest Test debutant Shreyas Iyer said that he always wanted to play Test Cricket and he is quite ambitious to make this opportunity count to fix his spot permanently in the longest format. Last month he made his Test debut against New Zealand at Kanpur as the Mumbai batter scored a hundred in his debut innings.
In an interview with Indian Express, the Mumbai batter spoke at length on various aspects of his career.
Shreyas Iyer made his T20I and ODI debut way back in 2017 but he had to wait for another 4 years to make his debut in the oldest form of cricket.
“Test cricket is the ultimate dream of any professional cricketer. True to its name, it tests your technical, mental and physical strength. I have always wanted to play Test cricket for India and I knew my time would come,” Shreyas Iyer said.
In domestic first-class cricket, Iyer had the reputation of taking on the spinners. A strike rate of 80.22 in his first-class career tells a thing or two about his approach.
“I treat each ball on its merit and play with a clear mind. I always try to avoid pre-meditated shots. Yes, you do have a game-plan based on the pitch, conditions and the opponent’s bowling set-up but it is important to adapt to the situation and trust your instinct. I love playing freely and the good part is that the team management has given me that freedom. So, if the ball is there to score, I go for it,” Shreyas Iyer shared the secrets behind his high strike rate in first-class cricket.
Speaking about challenges in South Africa as he would compete with Ajnkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari for a place in the XI, Iyer said that South African surfaces are greener and it required quick reflexes to counter high-quality pace bowling but he is up for the challenge.
“In South Africa, you find much harder and greener pitches as compared to India, which is intriguing for any batter’s technique and temperament and it’s exciting to compete there. The pace and bounce of the wickets in South Africa warrant quick reflexes. For me, the focus is on my footwork and movement at the crease so that I am in line and hold a good position to meet the ball or leave with conviction,” he said.
The first Test between India and South Africa will begin on December 26 at Centurion.
Also read India Did Well In England Because Rohit Sharma And KL Rahul Were Consistent – Aakash Chopra