Shreyas Iyer on Saturday said he was flamboyant but not responsible in the beginning of his career, a far cry from the present day matured man who is displaying both in equal measure while solving India’s number four conundrum.
The 25-year-old is gradually settling into the critical number four position in a team that has struggled to find one for the longest time.
The Mumbaikar showed his worth with half centuries in the first two ODIs against the West Indies.
“I think that comes with maturity and responsibility. I was a flamboyant player when I started playing first-class cricket. I never used to take responsibility. I just used to back my instincts and go with the flow,” Iyer told reporters.
“Lately, I’ve realised that once you play at the highest level, you got to take that maturity to another stage. I can even play strokes and I can even nudge the ball and take single, so I know my game really well right now and I can play accordingly.”
Asked about his sedate 88-ball 70, which he scored in the series opener on a day the top-order failed, he said, “You have to play according to what the team demands. And that’s what I did the other day. The team didn’t demand me to score big shots at that time, we just needed a big partnership.
“We just needed the scoreboard to keep going. And that’s what I did I and I feel that whatever the situation demands, you got to play accordingly. And I’m really happy about what I did in the first game.”
Three days later, batting at number five, Iyer was at his explosive best as he smashed a 32-ball 53 to consolidate India’s innings in Visakhapatnam.
“I batted at No 5 in the previous ODI. I’m flexible that way. It’s just that you got to play according to the situation and what the team demands. And that’s what I did. And I know that I can play in both flows.”