Shreyas Iyer, the dynamic skipper of Punjab Kings (PBKS), recently reflected on his cricketing journey and his early interactions with the Indian Premier League (IPL).
During a candid chat on the 'Superstars' program with JioHotstar, Iyer shared poignant memories from the inaugural IPL season when he served as a ball boy at Wankhede Stadium for a clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Iyer, who famously led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title last year, revealed his early brush with the big stage. "I grew up playing street cricket and was part of Mumbai's U-14 team.
Being a ball boy at the IPL was my first up-close experience of this incredible tournament," Iyer reminisced. At that match, the young cricketer had a memorable interaction with one of his idols, Ross Taylor, then representing RCB.
"Approaching Ross Taylor was daunting, but his kind response when I told him I was a fan left a lasting impression," Iyer noted, reflecting on his shy yet memorable moment.
In another highlight from that IPL match, Iyer encountered Punjab Kings' all-rounder Irfan Pathan. "Irfan bhai was charismatic and popular.
He interacted with us ball boys, and his warmth left us thrilled," Iyer recalled, adding that the star-studded lineup of the Punjab team, featuring players like Yuvraj Singh, seemed almost surreal to the young fan.
Fast forward to today, since his IPL debut in 2015, Iyer has accumulated 3,127 runs at an average of 32.23 with a strike rate of 127.47, boasting 21 half-centuries.
Impressively, Iyer claimed the 'Emerging Player' accolade in his maiden season with the Delhi Capitals after amassing 439 runs. He took his first steps into leadership with DC in 2018 and by 2020, had steered the team to the finals, eventually succumbing to MI.
Now, as he dons the captain's cap for PBKS, Iyer aspires to recreate his success when they commence their IPL campaign against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 25.
Already a seasoned leader, Iyer’s journey from a ball boy at Wankhede to an IPL-winning captain with KKR in 2024 under Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship, exemplifies his meteoric rise in the cricketing world.