Shreyas Iyer keen on earning Test spot: It would be fun to be part of India's Test team
Speaking to Sports Today, India batsman Shreyas Iyer said it's every cricketer's dream to play Test cricket and he is confident of donning the Indian whites sooner than later.
In Short
- Shreyas Iyer believes he has the skills to be part of India's Test team
- Iyer made his ODI and T20I debut in 2017, yet to don Indian Test whites
- Iyer recently recovered from a shoulder injury, gearing up for IPL 2021
Shreyas Iyer, much like any other Indian elite cricketer, dreams of playing the Test cricket. Having scored more than 4500 runs and averaging over 50 in first-class cricket, the 26-year-old dreams of wearing the Indian whites and he believes it will become reality sooner than later.
Speaking to India Today Consulting Editor Boria Majumdar, Shreyas Iyer said he is looking forward to playing Test cricket for India and that it would be fun to be part of this all-conquering Indian red-ball side.
Shreyas Iyer had often stressed that his India call-up came later than he expected. The Mumbai batsman made his debut in limited-overs cricket in 2017 but missed the bus to England for the World Cup. Having become a regular in the limited-overs side over the last few years, Iyer suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of the first half of IPL 2021.
Having recovered from the shoulder injury, Iyer, who is already in the UAE preparing for the remainder of IPL 2021 starting September 19, believes he has the skills to make the Test squad.
"Yes, very much. Whenever I open the Indian cricket team's Instagram page and see the photos (of the Test team), I feel I want to be part of the red-ball team. It's because my journey started from red-ball. My Ranji Trophy scenarios and India A have been smooth so far. I personally feel I can be part of the Test team and help them be as consistent as they have going right now," Iyer said.
"It's definitely every player's dream to play all 3 formats. And very soon, it will happen. I am positive about it," he added.
Iyer on rigors of red-ball game
Iyer had made his mark in first-class cricket and has even represented India A. Not many can forget the famous double hundred he hit against a touring Australian team in 2017 that had the likes of Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe who went on trouble quite a few Indian batsmen in the Test series that followed the warm-up game.
Iyer understands the mental ability that is needed for Test cricket and he is confident of earning a Test call-up. Having come back from the injury more determined and hungrier than ever, Iyer has set himself new goals.
"Test cricket tests you mentally and physically. It's not easy to play 5 days. I have done that in the past. We used to play back-to-back games in Ranji Trophy. If we reached the final, we played 11 games. That mental toughness is needed as it takes toll on your mind and yeah definitely, this is totally a different level.
"I totally feel it would be fun to be part of that team because of the way they are going about," Iyer added.
Iyer will be in action for Delhi Capitals in the remainder of IPL 2021 in the UAE. With a T20 World Cup spot up for grabs, the Mumbai star is looking forward to giving his best on the field in the coming months.