Shreyas Iyer expressed his immense joy after receiving the Player of the Match award following India's commanding 99-run victory (DLS) over Australia on Sunday, September 24, at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.
Over the past six months, Iyer has been dealing with back issues. After his comeback in the Asia Cup 2023, the right-handed batsman had to miss a few games due to a recurring back problem.
However, in Indore, Iyer showcased his top form, dismissing all doubts about his place in the Indian team by swiftly scoring his third ODI century in just 86 balls.
Reflecting on his performance, he expressed, "It was quite a rollercoaster, feeling fantastic. I had the support of my teammates, friends, and family. While watching the matches on TV, I wished to be out there and participate."
"I'm grateful for believing in myself. Despite the persistent pain and niggles, I was clear about my goals. I'm glad that I executed my plans perfectly today. When I walked into bat, I didn't want to complicate things. My focus was on getting my eyes set, which boosts my confidence," he elaborated during the post-match presentation ceremony.
Iyer batted at No. 3 in the match, but it's highly likely that Virat Kohli will reclaim that position in the series' third and final ODI. Iyer acknowledged Kohli's status as "one of the greats" and emphasized that he has no intention of taking the No. 3 spot away from the former Indian captain.
"I'm flexible and ready to bat in any position as required by my team. Virat is one of the greats, and there's no chance of taking that spot from him. My primary focus is to keep scoring," Iyer added.
