Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Santosh Iyer (born 6 December 1994) is an Indian international cricketer who plays for the Indian cricket team as a right-handed batter. He has played in all formats for the Indian cricket team. Iyer scored a century in his debut test match and a half-century in the second innings against New Zealand in November 2021, thus becoming the first Indian player to achieve the milestone. Iyer plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket and captains the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. He played for the India Under-19 cricket team at the 2014 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He was named in the India Squad for 2023 Cricket World Cup, and scored a century against New Zealand in the semi-finals. He was a part of the Indian squad that won the 2023 Asia Cup. He won his first IPL title as captain in the 2024 Indian Premier League, becoming the 5th Indian player to lead a team to the IPL title victory.

He made headlines when the then Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) bought him at the 2015 IPL auction for 2.6 crore (about US$416,000). He made 439 runs that season and won the IPL Emerging Player of the Year award. Over the next six seasons, he became a mainstay of the side and its captain, making over 400 runs in four different seasons.

Early years
Shreyas Iyer was born on 6 December 1994 in Chembur, Mumbai. His father, Santosh Iyer, is Tamil, and his mother, Rohini Iyer, is Tulu. His ancestors are from Thrissur, Kerala. He was educated at Don Bosco High School, Matunga and at Ramniranjan Anandilal Podar College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai.

At the age of 18, Iyer was spotted by coach Pravin Amre at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana. Amre trained him in his early cricketing days. Iyer's teammates at the age group levels used to compare him to Virender Sehwag. During his graduation from Podar College, Iyer helped his college team to win six trophies.

Domestic career
In 2014, Iyer represented the Trent Bridge Cricket Team. During a trip to the UK, he played three matches, scoring 297 runs and averaging 99 runs per game. He set a new team record with a highest score of 171.

Iyer made his List A debut for Mumbai in November 2014, playing in the 2014–15 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He scored 273 runs in that tournament at an average of 54.60. Iyer made his first-class cricket debut in December 2014 during the 2014–15 Ranji Trophy. He scored a total of 809 runs at an average of 50.56 in his debut Ranji season, including two centuries and six fifties. He was 7th highest scorer of the 2014–15 Ranji Trophy.

In the 2015–16 Ranji Trophy, Iyer scored 1,321 runs at an average of 73.39, including four centuries and seven fifties, becoming the top scorer of the Ranji season and the second player to score 1,300 runs in a single Ranji Trophy competition. In the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy, Iyer scored 725 runs at an average of 42.64, including two centuries and two fifties. He scored 202 not out off 210 balls against the visiting Australia team in a 3-Day Practice match in Mumbai, his highest first-class score.

In September 2018, Iyer was named the vice-captain of Mumbai for the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament. He was the leading run-scorer for Mumbai in the tournament, with 373 runs in seven matches. In October 2018, Iyer was named the captain of India B's squad for the 2018–19 Deodhar Trophy. He was also the leading run-scorer in that tournament, with 199 runs in three matches.

In February 2019, in the opening round of the 2018–19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament, Iyer made the highest total by an Indian batsman in a T20 match, scoring 147 runs.

In March 2021, Iyer was signed by Lancashire for their 2021 season of the Royal London One-Day Cup. , but, in July 2021, Iyer left out of the tournament to recover from an injury.

Due to his National Commitments, Iyer didn't participate in the 2022 and 2023 domestic seasons.

In February 2024, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested that Iyer participate in the 2024 Ranji Trophy due to poor performance in recent Red ball cricket. Shreyas Iyer didn't participate in the quarter-final against Baroda because of back issues. Due to lack communication between Iyer & BCCI. After he was removed from the 2024 BCCI Central Contract.

Later, He participated in the semi-final of the Ranji Trophy against Tamil Nadu. In the final of the Ranji Trophy Iyer scored 95(111) in two innings against Vidharbha. also Mumbai won the 2024 Ranji Trophy.

Indian Premier League
In February 2015, Iyer was signed in the 2015 IPL players auction by the Delhi Daredevils for 2.6 crores (approximately $430,000). Thus Iyer became the highest-earning uncapped player in the tournament. He scored 439 runs in 14 matches, with a 33.76 average and a strike rate of 128.36, making Iyer the 9th most consistent player and Emerging Player of 2015 IPL.

Delhi Daredevils retained Iyer in the 2018 IPL Auction. On 25 April 2018, he was announced as the new captain of Delhi Daredevils replacing Gautam Gambhir. On 27 April 2018, he became the youngest captain to lead the Delhi Daredevils team in the IPL history at the age of 23 years and 142 days during the match against Kolkata Knight Riders and was also the fourth overall youngest to captain any IPL side. On his IPL captaincy debut, Shreyas Iyer smashed an unbeaten match-winning knock of 93 off 40 deliveries with 10 sixes, which was his third successive IPL fifty of the season to power DD to a heavy total of 219/5 in the first innings of the match before earning him the man of the match award. Under his captaincy, Delhi Daredevils managed to defeat KKR by 55 runs to secure only their second win of the tournament. Iyer was retained by the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2019 Season, in which he led the team into the playoffs for the first time after seven years.

In the 2020 season, he continued as the captain for Delhi Capitals and he also led them to their maiden IPL final against the Mumbai Indians. Iyer scored an unbeaten 65 off 50 balls in a losing effort as Mumbai Indians won the final.

He missed the half season of IPL 2021 due to an injury in his Left Shoulder while playing for India in the first match of an ODI series against England in the same year. He returned after six months for Delhi Capitals after Captaincy Snub in Delhi Capitals. Shreyas Iyer released for Auction. In the 2022 IPL Auction, Iyer was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹ 12.25 crores. He was also named as the team's captain. Despite having a bad season as captain with the franchise finishing 7th, he scored 401 runs in that year, the most runs for the franchise that year. In 2023, he was unavailable for the whole season due to a back injury, with Nitish Rana serving as the captain for that season.

He returned as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2024 season. This edition was a test for him both as a player and a captain, as he was dropped from the BCCI Central Contact, despite playing exceptionally well in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. He led the team exceptionally well and finished the league stage with securing the top position. In the final, Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets to lift their third-IPL title. He became the first captain to lead two teams in the IPL finals. He also scored 351 runs and strengthened the middle-order along with Venkatesh Iyer.

Indian Premier League
In 2018,Gautam Gambhir step down from captaincy after 1 win,5 losses in 6 matches. Shreyas Iyer appointed for Delhi Daredevils Captain.He finished with that season 4 wins and 4 losses in remaining 8 matches.

In 2019, Delhi Capitals confirmed that Shreyas Iyer lead the team in ipl .Shreyas & Co finished 3rd Spot in points table with 9 wins,5 losses in 14 league matches.Unfortunately Delhi Capitals lost against Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 2.

In 2020 ipl, Shreyas & Co finished 2nd spot in table as 8 wins,6 losses in 14 league matches.Delhi Capitals lost against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 1 & win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 to reach final. Shreyas Iyer is the Only & First Captain to lead Delhi franchise into the Final of Indian premier league.but,Unfortunately lost in Final become a Runner-up of 2020 Ipl season

Captaincy snub
In 2021 February,Shreyas Iyer has Shoulder injury in England Odi series.He also Left out of the Ipl 2021.Rishabh Pant appointed as a Captain for replacement to Shreyas Iyer. 2nd window of Ipl 2021 Shreyas Iyer Return to play Ipl.but Delhi Capital's Owners Management wanted to Delhi Origin player continues as the captain. They didn't consider give it back to captaincy for Shreyas Iyer.During before the auction of next IPL.Shreyas Iyer request to Team management for take captaincy & lead team .But Delhi Capitals Release him for the Auction.

Back as a captain
In 2022 Ipl Kolkata Knight Riders appointed Shreyas Iyer as Captain of team. Shreyas Iyer & Co finished 7th Spot of table 2022 Season.In 2023 Ipl Shreyas Iyer left out from Ipl due to Back Injury. Nitish Rana appointed as a replacement captain.

Shreyas Iyer return to Lead Kolkata Knight Riders for Ipl 2024.While Nitish Rana appointed to Vice-Captain position. Shreyas Iyer & Co finished top of the table as 9 wins,3 losses,2 No results in 14 league matches Shreyas Iyer is become a Only & First Captain of Kolkata Knight Riders finished 1st Spot of points table.After reach to the final, Shreyas Iyer become 3rd Captain to lead Kolkata Knight Riders in Ipl final.He is the only captain to lead two different franchises into Final.

In 2024 Ipl Final Shreyas Iyer & Co beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 Wickets & Clinch their 3rd Ipl Trophy. Shreyas Iyer become the 2nd Captain of Kolkata Knight Riders Win Ipl Trophy.Shreyas Iyer also as a 5th Indian Captain win trophy in Indian premier league.

Captaincy records
Shreyas Iyer is the only Successful Captain for Delhi Capitals with 56.09% winning percentage.Shreyas Iyer is now Most experinced Captain among active captains in Ipl as Captain in 71 Matches.

International career
In March 2017, Iyer was added to India's Test squad as cover for Virat Kohli, ahead of the fourth Test against Australia. He came on as a substitute fielder in the fourth test and ran out Steve O'Keefe for 8.

In October 2017, Iyer was named in India's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against New Zealand. He made his T20I debut for India against New Zealand on 1 November 2017, but he did not bat.

In November 2017, Iyer was named in India's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against Sri Lanka. He made his ODI debut for India against Sri Lanka on 10 December 2017. He scored 88 from 70 balls in the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka at Mohali.

On 18 December 2019, in the second ODI against the West Indies, Iyer scored 31 runs in one over, the most scored by a batsman for India in a single over in ODIs. On 24 January 2020, in the first T20I against New Zealand, Iyer scored an unbeaten 58 off 29 balls and was declared the Man of the Match.

On 26 January 2020, in the second T20I against New Zealand, he scored 44 off 33 balls. On 5 February 2020, in the first ODI against New Zealand, Iyer scored 103 off 107 balls, his maiden century in ODI cricket.

In September 2021, Iyer was named as one of three reserve players in India's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. In November 2021, he was named in India's Test squad for their series against New Zealand. He made his Test debut on 25 November 2021, for India against New Zealand.

On 25 November 2021, Iyer got his Test cap from the former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and scored a maiden century playing against the New Zealand team. He became the 16th Indian player to score a century in the debut test match and become the first Indian player to score a century and a half century in 2 innings of debut test match.

In the 2022 bilateral T20I series against Sri Lanka, Iyer broke Virat Kohli's record of most runs scored by an Indian batsman in a 3-match T20I bilateral series, scoring a total of 204 runs with three consecutive unbeaten half-centuries.

In March 2022, Iyer was named man of the match after scoring two crucial fifties on a tough turning track in the second Test match against Sri Lanka. In recognition of Iyer's good form, he was named as the ICC player of the month for February 2022. On 9 October 2022, during the 2nd of 3 ODI matches against South Africa, he achieved his 2nd ODI century scoring 113 off 111 balls, and remained unbeaten. However, Shreyas Iyer was not picked in the India squad for the T20 World Cup 2022. During the 2nd T20I against New Zealand in Bay Oval Shreyas was out by hit wicket. He was the 4th Indian player to be out in hit wicket. Shreyas Iyer hit 80 runs for just 76 balls in 1st ODI against New Zealand in Eden Park.

In January 2023, after Sri Lanka series Iyer was out from the New Zealand series due to back pain. Shreyas returned in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He was able to play in 2nd Test. During the 4th test at Ahmedabad after Australia finished 1st innings by 480, while India started the batting but Shreyas did not come for the batting. He complained about back pain once again and was taken for the scans. Shreyas Iyer was dropped from the series due to back pain. He went to England for back surgery in April. Shreyas Iyer wasn't available for the ICC Test championship Final against Australia in Kennington Oval. He was recovering in NCA for his return. As a result of his hard work, Iyer was named in Asia Cup 2023.

During the 2nd ODI against Australia in Indore, Iyer scored 105 runs in just 90 balls, marking a strong comeback ahead of the World Cup. India won the match with Iyer winning the Man of the Match Award for his performance.