Follow UsIndian captain Rohit Sharma said Shreyas Iyer was the “silent hero” of India’s successful ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign in Dubai. The No.4 batter ended the competition as the second-highest run-getter, slamming 243 runs in five innings at an average of 48.60.
Iyer got out for 15 in the first game against Bangladesh but thereafter, the right-hander from Mumbai contributed in every single match. 56, 79, 45 and 48 - Iyer showed tremendous consistency on a tricky Dubai surface. Even in the final against New Zealand, India lost three quick wickets after the 105-run stand but Iyer stepped up and scored 48 to keep the chase on track.
“When I talk about recognition, it's about getting that respect. It was about the respect for whatever efforts I put on the field. I think sometimes it gets unnoticed but extremely satisfied with the efforts I put in because they weren't easy wickets to bat on. It wasn't easy to take singles especially when the bowlers were bowling so tight. I just had the belief in myself that once I get two sixes here or there, I can change the momentum towards our side. Luckily I got them at crucial times,” Iyer told the Times of India.
“I come with my full heart and there is something else going on in my mind. I have a lot of confidence in myself to do the job. Koi bhi situation mai bhejo, karke aauga (No matter what the situation is, I will get the job done). This mindset works for me and this confidence comes after facing rejections and failures. They are the best teachers. You also get to know during tough times, only you can lift yourself. No one else.”
Iyer lost his BCCI contract after the 2023 ODI World Cup but responded by leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2024. He then returned to domestic cricket and scored many runs for Mumbai in all three formats.
“Extremely satisfying. To be honest it has been a journey and I have learnt a lot in this phase of my life where I got out of the contract after playing the 2023 ODI World Cup. I reassessed where I went wrong, what I should be doing, how well I need to focus on my fitness. I asked myself all these questions and prepared a routine and started focussing on my training and also the skills I added side by side.
“Once I got continuous matches in domestic cricket, I figured out how important fitness was for me especially when I raised my concerns at the start of the year. Overall I am extremely happy with myself... the way I came out of this, the way I handled the situation and most importantly I believed in myself.”
Adding more, Iyer said: “Frustration toh nahi tha because I was playing IPL. The major focus was to win the IPL and thankfully I won it. I personally felt I didn't get the recognition I wanted to after winning the IPL but at the end of the day, as long as you have self integrity and you keep doing the right things when no one is watching, that is more important and that is what I kept doing.”
Iyer will next be seen leading Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025.
