Unlike most kids in India, cricket wasn’t Shreyas Iyer's first love. “I never really watched cricket as a kid,” he said in a recent episode of the iQOO Quest Talk podcast with Nipun Marya. “For my dad, cricket was everything, but for me, it was about playing, not watching.” (Photo- Instagram)
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Shreyas was instead drawn to other sports like cycling, tennis, football, and Formula One. “I never really enjoyed watching cricket with intensity,” he admitted with a smile. (Photo- X)
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But once started playing, everything changed. “Playing the game gave me a different thrill. That’s when I knew cricket was something I wanted to live, not just watch.” (Photo- X)
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His breakthrough came at Shivaji Park Gymkhana, where coach Pravin Amre spotted his natural talent. Following which he had a breakthrough in the 2015 Ranji Trophy, which led to his IPL debut. (Photo- X)
In 2017, Shreyas made his international debut for India. And has also led three franchises to IPL final. “I never imagined I would captain three IPL teams to the finals,” he said, reflecting on an achievement no one had ever done before. (Photo- X)
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Despite facing injuries and doubts, Shreyas always responded with match-winning knocks, proving his resilience. And in fact, his journey also reflects that passion doesn’t always come from following; sometimes it comes from playing, failing, and rising again. (Photo- Reuters)
