Star India batter Shreyas Iyer has shared that it was a great feeling after winning Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy. However, this is the fourth title this year he won as well. Mumbai team won the Ranji Trophy for the 42nd time. Then he led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third title and he was a part of the Irani Cup-winning Mumbai team as well.
“Fantastic feeling. This is the fourth title of the year. Can’t be happier to be honest,” he said to media following Mumbai’s victory. “I personally feel that it’s important for me and also for all the youngsters who have come up. And the way they showcase their talent is simply phenomenal. You should see their character and their approach outside the dressing room and also on the field. They are fearless in their approach. And these are the kind of players we need to back, going forward.”
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“And for me personally whenever I go out there I want to win each and every game. It doesn’t matter who we play. Winning is something that makes me feel happy. And it is everything for me. So each and every game I play I see to it. I go there, give my 110 percent and leave the rest to God. And it has been working tremendously well for us,” he again added.
However, Mumbai’s batting had the India internationals, including T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav. But their bowling department had only Shardul Thakur with the international experience. They had a great season, but the bowlers did step up in the semifinal and the final, which Shreyas acknowledged as well.
“If you have such experienced players in your team, it always helps the captain. And it helped me. But if you see in our bowling lineup, there are hardly any Indian players. We struggled a bit right from match 1. But the way they showed their skills in the last two games, I think they stepped up at the right time when the team needed them. And then conceding around 170 on such wickets, where you know the wicket tends to get better. And when the lights are on, it is easy for the batters to come and bat. I think (it was a) commendable performance from them,” he stated.
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Shreyas Iyer was also praised veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane, who was named the player of the tournament after finishing as the highest run-getter with 469 runs in eight innings, which came at an average of 58.62. Rahane’s knocks in the last four matches – 95, 84, 98 and 37 – were equally important – leading Mumbai to their second Syed Mushtaq Ali title as well.
“He is that sort of a character who will give 110% for the team. And he stepped up at the right time on any given occasion. He started with number 4 where he knew that there were two openers. So he sacrificed his position and then after that when Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] came in, he was (back as) an opener. So he is a fantastic team man and hopefully he carries forward the same momentum in the upcoming games as well. But irrespective, salute to him the way he approached each and every game match by match. I am a firm believer of someone who has a certain type of routine and he is one of them,” Shreyas Iyer concluded.
