Don’t want selection issues to rule my happiness, claims Shreyas Iyer

Indian youngster Shreyas Iyer has been on the periphery of the national team setup after he made his ODI debut back in December 2017. Iyer was involved in the series against South Africa and England earlier this year, the young batsman from Mumbai has been overlooked in favour of the veteran batsman - Ambati Rayudu.

Iyer, who represents Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, in a recent interview with The Indian Express, revealed that he does not let selection disappointment get to his head anymore. The youngster was recently involved in India A series against New Zealand where he registered scores of 54, 59 and 23 respectively. 

 “I don’t feel anything from the inside these days. Koi feeling hi nahi aa raha hai. For me somehow it (fussing about Indian call) isn’t important. I am emotionless now. Someone comes and says, I am in team, I am not in team, kuchfaraknahipadhta (it doesn’t matter much).

“I have stopped thinking too much. It all started against West Indies. I told myself that I want to enjoy my life, mazaakarna hai. I don’t want selection issues to rule my happiness. Otherwise I would get frustrated and thinking about the future will ruin my present also. It’s better to enjoy life – selection is a temporary thing,” Iyer said in an interview with The Indian Express.

The youngster rose through the ranks in 2014 after making his Ranji debut and has piled up 809, 1321 and 725 runs respectively in the last three domestic seasons. He was picked for Indian T20 team in December 2017 against New Zealand. The 24-year old has also played six ODI’s, scoring two fifties from five innings. 

Apart from disappointment at not being selected, the Delhi Daredevils captain also faces issues like loneliness and homesickness. He hasn’t reached a place, like Shikhar Dhawan, where he can skip Ranji Trophy and spend more time at home.

“Body is completely tired, I am fatigued mentally. But no one is going to say take rest, Kisi ko farak pada nahi hai kuch (no one cares). Yes. We are not machines. I wanted to tell this in any interview. There is no one to tell that players don’t get adequate rest. We are playing non-stop for two years. Zara sabreaknahimilta. I am out of home for 300 days. Even if am in India, I am not home.

“I do feel loneliness. Once, when I was playing for India A and on a tour, I felt very lonely. How do I spend time? I listen to music and there is always Netflix. It can get tough. We players do feel homesick; people who watch us playing should realise what we go through,” Shreyas added.

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