Shreyas Iyer, the highest run-scorer for team India in 2022, narrated the story of his first ever meeting with batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, when he was just 14. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer idolized Sachin Tendulkar since his childhood days as they hail from the same city of Mumbai.
Iyer emerged to be the most potent batter for national team in 2022. The middle order batter scored 1,537 runs in 39 ODIs at an average of 48.03 and a strike rate of 96 in 2022, with help of 14 half centuries and two centuries. Notably, Iyer was also the third highest run-scorer in international cricket after Babar Azam and Litton Das.
"I was 14-years-old and Sachin sir had come to BKC to give us motivation for a tournament. That was the first-time I ever met him and a one-on-one chat happened in the Ranji Trophy final. We had a brief chat and I asked him technique and stance, which keeps on changing during matches. I asked him, "what should I do?" He said that 'Dekh Shreyas, which you feel is perfect for that day, that is the right thing to do," Iyer said in an interaction with Mashable India.
"Sachin sir is so obsessed with cricket. He will keep on speaking only, he will give you so many tips. He said that "do whatever you feel comfortable with on that particular day", he added.
Iyer has been named in the Indian squad for IND vs SL three-match ODI series, which will start from January 10 in Guwahati.
Indian fans and Iyer will hope to continue his purple patch in 2023. Iyer has been scoring runs consistently in ODIs and can prove to be the X factor for team India in the ODI World Cup 2023. In 2022, Iyer scored 1,489 runs in all three formats, most runs scored by Indian players last year.