Star India batter Shreyas Iyer has shared that he was affected by cramps to such an extent towards the end of his innings in the Indore ODI that he wasn’t even able to hold his grip on the bat as well. He further added that he made his mind up to go after the bowling and see how many runs he could get. However, he also won the Player of the Match for his brilliant 105 off 90 balls as well.
At a post-match press conference, he said: “I am okay right now because I have fielded almost 30 overs after that, but I was getting serious cramps. I wasn’t able to hold my grip. Even the caught and bowled which happened [decision was overturned], the time he [Sean Abbott] delivered the ball, my hand literally got stuck over there and I just played with my bottom hand.”
“Also, the umpires gave me an indication that you won’t be able to call the physios again. So, I was bit anxious at that time, didn’t know what to do. My mind was a little bit down in the dumps, but I just told myself that this is the time you need to get into the beast mode and see whatever you get from here on,” he further added.
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However, after surviving a caught and bowled chance in the 31st over, Shreyas Iyer got out a few balls later as well. Meanwhile, he batted at No. 3 in the first two one-dayers against Australia in the absence of Virat Kohli. He also shared that dealing with constant injury and fitness issues was a tough phase for him as well.
“Management has told me that I would be batting at this particular number. I am flexible at whatever number I get to bat, whatever the team requires at that point of time. If I have to go lower down the order or up the order, I’m fine with it,” Shreyas said. “Yeah, it was definitely a rollercoaster ride. I would like to thank myself, to be honest, for believing, at that point in time, on my abilities and also my mindset. I was feeling a bit lonely at that point of time, but thanks to my physios, my trainers and my family, to back me at that point of time, and I’m grateful to have them around,” he said.”These are all these people being around me and lifting my spirits high. That motivated me to stay positive and optimistic at the same time. So I’m thankful, and I’m grateful.”
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“I keep telling myself that the competition is against me. It’s about my mindset – how I maintain especially when the chips are down. I’ve been eagerly waiting for this opportunity and finally I got one. Today, thankfully, I got to score a century. My mind was fluctuating at times, but I was trying to stay away from the outside noise as much as possible – turn a deaf ear. As they say, ignorance is bliss. Just taking one step at a time, being in the present and not thinking much about what happened and what will happen,” he concluded.
