New Delhi, April 28: In the ongoing IPL 2026, Punjab Kings stands out as the only team yet to lose a match. Shreyas Iyer has excelled as both captain and batsman, leading his team to the top of the points table. After battling injuries, Iyer is now ready to lift the trophy.
In a conversation with Irfan Pathan on the GeoStar show “Believe,” Iyer discussed his recovery from injury, building a strong mindset, and taking responsibility for finishing matches for his team.
Iyer shared his determination to prove doubters wrong. “There are people around me who say that in this situation, you can’t do it. It’s impossible. I dislike hearing that. As a cricketer playing at such a high level, I cannot accept that. It solidifies my resolve to prove them wrong. The challenge becomes how I can return even stronger. I motivate myself to work harder and aim to return to the field as soon as possible. This mindset keeps pushing me forward, especially after an injury,” he stated.
Reflecting on a past back injury, he mentioned, “Some said I would never be the same again. I asked myself, ‘Why can’t I be?’ How you adjust your mindset after an injury is crucial. You decide what to focus on and what to ignore.”
When asked about the source of his confidence and self-management, Iyer replied, “Understanding as a cricketer comes from learning off the field, facing rejection, and losing matches. During my childhood, I faced many tough moments in matches and selection trials. Ups and downs are part of life. I believe the sooner you recover from tough times and turn them into positives, the better it is. Self-talk is essential. People will always try to bring you down, but how you handle yourself matters most. Sometimes, I read books that uplift me.”
He added, “I try to take my mind off cricket. I go on vacations and spend time alone. Letting go is crucial. You set a goal and want to achieve it, but you must also tell yourself that if it doesn’t happen, it’s okay. Accept it and move on. Otherwise, you’ll keep wondering what went wrong and fall behind. I reached a point where I realized that even if I don’t achieve a specific goal, it’s still fine. You move forward and try to achieve something else.”
Iyer has emerged as a remarkable finisher. Discussing his approach to finishing matches, he said, “I want to remain not out and finish the game because there’s a unique joy in doing so. I tell myself that the longer I stay until the end, the more chances we have to win, benefiting the team. The contributions of young players and openers are also crucial, especially when chasing scores over 200. If you look at the matches we won in the second innings this year and last season, they laid a strong foundation for us. When I bat, I draw confidence from their good starts, knowing I can carry the match forward from there.”
On addressing his weakness against short balls, Iyer remarked, “People said I would never fix my short-ball issue. That motivated me even more. I wanted to prove them wrong with my performance. Initially, I would just take a single or try to defend. But now my mindset has changed. If I see a short ball in my zone, I go for the six. I work with Praveen Amre, who has been with me since childhood. I also discuss with coaches like Abhishek Nayar. We exchange ideas.”
He explained that during batting practice, he now aims to face around 300 balls over 50 overs. This helps him understand what works for him. “I don’t follow a fixed pattern. I give myself more time on the pitch and face real bowlers, not just side-arm throws. The more bowlers I face, the clearer my movement becomes. I focus on creating a rhythm. Just before the bowler delivers, I try to get into my correct position quickly. This creates a flow. You’ve seen AB de Villiers do this. Even Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have a rhythm before playing their shots. I try to emulate that.”
Recalling his experience of seeing Irfan Pathan as a ball boy, Iyer said, “I remember when I first saw you. In the first season of IPL, I was a ball boy when you played for Punjab. You had just completed an over. I was sitting with another ball boy near the boundary. You came over and asked how we were feeling. We said it was great. At that moment, it felt amazing that an IPL player and a cricketer from India came to talk to us. It was a very special feeling.”
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment