Asia Cup 2025: Shreyas Iyer opens up on rejections, setbacks and his road to redemption

Table of Contents

Shreyas Iyer, one of the most promising batters in Indian cricket, has endured a career filled with highs and lows since his international debut in 2017. Now 30, he has represented India in 135 matches across formats. While he remains a regular in ODI cricket, his last Test appearance was in February 2024 and his final T20I outing came in December 2023.

Iyer’s journey has been far from smooth. In 2024, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made headlines by terminating his central contract after he declined to play domestic cricket for Mumbai, citing a back injury. The BCCI medical team, however, claimed he was fit to play. The fallout saw Iyer lose his contract, a decision many felt was aimed at setting an example for others.

Speaking on IQOO India’s The Quest Talk podcast, Shreyas candidly revealed how he has learned to deal with constant setbacks. His mantra is clear: stop worrying about external opinions and focus solely on self-improvement.

“Stop giving a sh*t about what people think about you. Period. Once you have that mindset, you will keep working on yourself. I keep learning every day. I feel that you are never perfect as an individual, so keep learning, and knowledge is eternal. I always look forward to transcending beyond my abilities and learning every single day,” Shreyas said.

The batter admitted that his perspective did not change overnight. Years of rejections and failures forced him to rethink his approach and build resilience.

Shreyas also had to face challenges in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite leading the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their first IPL title in a decade, he was released from the franchise soon after. Not one to be bogged down, he made an impressive comeback by guiding Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the IPL 2025 final.

However, even that success wasn’t enough to secure him a place in India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. For Shreyas, it was yet another reminder of the unpredictability of cricket and the importance of staying grounded.

“There have been phases in my life. It’s not like I went straight and started thinking like this, but obviously, there have been rejections. There have been failures. There have been ups and downs. Life has been like a roller coaster ride. So, through all these, I’ve learnt so much,” he reflected.

While acknowledging the frustration of missing out on the national squad despite performing consistently, Shreyas emphasized the importance of professionalism and hard work.

“It is frustrating when you know that you deserve to be in the team and the playing XI. But at the same time, when someone is performing and playing consistently for the team and bringing their best, you support them. The goal is for the team to win. When the team is winning, everyone is happy,” he explained.

Also READ: “He needs to focus on…”: Parthiv Patel offers sharp take on Shreyas Iyer’s surprising omission from India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad

For Shreyas, success lies not just in selection but in maintaining discipline and continuing to give his best even when no one is watching. “It’s not like you only work hard when the eyeballs are on you. Even when no one is watching, you have to keep putting in the work,” he added.

Despite recent disappointments, Shreyas now has a golden chance to revive his Test career. The BCCI has named him captain of the India A team for the upcoming home series against Australia A. The appointment provides him with an opportunity to showcase his leadership and batting skills at a time when competition for middle-order spots remains fierce.

This call-up could well be the stepping stone for Shreyas to reclaim his place in the senior Test side, especially with India preparing for a transitional phase in red-ball cricket.

Also READ: Shreyas Iyer named captain as BCCI announces India A squad for multi-day matches against Australia A