Out-of-favour middle-order Test batter Shreyas Iyer roared back to form with a century in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 clash between Mumbai and Maharashtra. Iyer who got dropped from the Test squad after home series against England, is keen to make his comeback to the Test squad and is focusing on keeping himself fit.
"Coming back after a very long time, obviously I was feeling a bit down with my injuries, but now getting a century after a very long time, it's a great feeling,” Iyer was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
"I am absolutely keen for a [Test] comeback but yeah, as we say, control the controllables and my job is to keep performing and keep participating as much as possible and also see with that my body is in best shape. So I'll take the best decision possible according to that."
Iyer on his fitness levels
Iyer missed the last two Tests of the series against England as his back issues surfaced months after surgery. The Mumbai batter reiterated that he addressed the issues while playing the longer format.
"See, I had addressed my feeling during the longer format and things didn't go my way," he said, implying that he was willing to put it behind him. "But I've also addressed it in the previous interviews I've given and I'm in a good space right now. I'm doing what I'm meant to do, that is training and playing matches consistently and I feel that all the matches I've played right now in the past have helped me gain that fitness level as well, along with my training."
Iyer not concerned about what people think
Iyer was criticised for his move as there were reports that he was declared fit but skipped a few games including Ranji Trophy which led to him losing the central contract. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is not worried about what anyone thinks and at this juncture of career, wants to listen to his body.
"The body has taken a lot of load at the same time. So we have to manage here and there and see to it that I strategise in terms of how I play. Now I have to be smart in terms of what decisions I take, I need to see to it that my body is in the best shape possible. As I mentioned previously as well, I have to decide according to that, no matter whatever people think outside. I have to listen to my body because I know the amount of threshold carried over the last few years and based on that, I'll be taking the right decision, and I hope that my team will also back [that]," he explained.
He scored 142 runs from 190 balls including 12 fours and four sixes to help Mumbai post 441 on the board and take a first innings lead of 315 runs.
