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Shreyas Iyer to Ranji Ton – No matter what people think, I have to listen to my body

Shreyas Iyer to Ranji Ton – No matter what people think, I have to listen to my body

The year 2024 was like a box of chocolates for Shreyas Iyer. Ten months ago he wouldn’t have known what he would get.

With back problems bothering him earlier in the year, Iyer’s big challenge this domestic season has been to be patient, play long innings and stay fit by playing one red-ball game after another. And in five first-class matches starting with the Duleep Trophy in early September, Iyer scored four scores of 50 or more in 11 innings, culminating with a Ranji Trophy century against Maharashtra on Saturday – 142 off 190 balls with 12 fours and four sixes, including a few short balls. It was Iyer’s first century in first-class cricket in almost three years, since his hundred Test debut against New Zealand in Kanpur. Iyer says he is “absolutely keen on a comeback”, with runs behind him and a 100 per cent good back.

Describing the century as “special”, Iyer said: “When I came back after a very long time, I obviously felt a bit down because of my injuries but now, after a very long time, to celebrate the century, it is a great feeling.”

“I absolutely fancy one [Test] Comeback, but yeah, as we say, control the things that can be controlled and my job is to keep performing and competing as much as I can and also making sure my body is in the best shape possible. So I will make the best decision possible.”

Iyer revealed that after his back surgery last year, he went through a phase where he had doubts that the injury could reoccur. He returned from an injury layoff in the Asia Cup last year, which was followed by the ODI World Cup at home, before playing the two Tests in South Africa and then two more at home against England at the turn of the year. Iyer had said at the end of IPL 2024 that he was “definitely having problems” with his back in the longer format, but “no one agreed” when he expressed his concerns. Does he sometimes still feel such doubts on his back?

“Not anymore,” he said. “But there was this phase where I felt it could happen again. But yes, I’ve been training a lot to make sure I’m at peak fitness and of course it happens here and there, but now my performance has improved significantly.”

And how did he get his body there?

“Training. Yes, obviously I improved my long distance running and that’s what I wanted. You know, I also need to increase my patience with the longer format and I have been training accordingly.” [I did] Intense training where I put a lot of stress on my body, pushing my body to run 400-800 meters and trying to push myself to the limit and ensure I had the best fitness possible.

[Earlier]Even if I sat or stood for a long time, my back automatically became stiff and yes, basically that is what I wanted to improve.”

Did the fitness issues and the way he thought “nobody agreed” lead to an inaccurate perception of him in Test cricket?

“Look, I addressed my feelings during the extended format and things didn’t go my way,” he said, indicating he was ready to put it behind him. “But I’ve also addressed it in the previous interviews I’ve given and I’m in a good place right now. “I’m doing what I’m supposed to do, which is to train regularly and play games and I feel it.” All the games I’ve played in the past, along with my training, have also helped me improve this fitness level.

Iyer, who was playing his sixth consecutive first-class match in the last six weeks, said: “The body has taken a lot of stress at the same time. So we have to manage here and there and make sure I’m being strategic.” Now I have to be smart about my decisions and make sure my body is in the best shape possible. No matter what people outside think, I have to listen to my body because I know how many hurdles I have overcome in the last few years and based on that I will make the right decision and I hope my team will too is [that].”

“You win three championships in one year, and what more could you want? All I see are the positive things here and that is winning the trophy and that is what I want.”

Shreyas Iyer about missing out on India A’s squad for the Australia tour

Iyer further said that he also had to change his approach to the red-ball format after suffering an injury for the longer format. Iyer faced 190 deliveries during his knock spread over Friday and Saturday and the last time he faced that many deliveries in first-class cricket was in December 2022 in Chattogram, where he was patient in the first innings of the first Test 86 out of 192 scored. Since then, there have only been two occasions on which Iyer has faced over 100 deliveries in a first-class innings in 28 attempts.

“Nowadays, when teams meet, they immediately set up a defensive field from the first ball,” he said. “So I just tried to take some time and play more balls than shots in between, so that was my plan. Play session after session, trying to see how much my body can take. Saying that, I have played a few games in the past and have learned that I can smash any ball, but at the same time I need to hit longer if I want my body to be prepared for any situation the opponent has in store , we have faced many challenges in the past.

“Like the last game, Baroda gave us a top player who performed brilliantly and put us under pressure. So there are different occasions, different requirements and we have to make sure we are in the best mindset possible.”

After the game against Maharashtra, Iyer will play three more league games that Mumbai is scheduled to play this year before the Ranji Trophy season is suspended for the 50-over and 20-over white-ball tournaments. It may be a bit of a stretch to say that Iyer will be a strong contender for the Australia tour as he was not named in India’s senior squad for the two red-ball games starting October 31.

Does Iyer feel like he’s had a mixed bag of chocolates this year?

“You win three championships in one year, and what more could you want? All I see are the positive things here and that is winning the trophy and that is what I want.”

Vishal Dikshit is an editorial assistant at ESPNcricinfo