'Out of words...': Shreyas Iyer on winning first ICC title
What's the story
Star batter Shreyas Iyer, who was instrumental in India's recent ICC Champions Trophy win, has said he is over the moon and excited about the win. India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the final to claim their third Champions Trophy title. Iyer was pivotal in the win with his contribution of 48 runs in the final. Overall, he scored a phenomenal 243 runs, finishing as India's highest run-scorer of the tournament.
Recognition
Iyer's performance earns him accolades
Iyer's phenomenal showing in the tournament not only guided India to their third Champions Trophy title but also made him the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament. He was India's top run-scorer and found a place in ICC's Team of the Tournament alongside teammates Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, and Varun Chakravarthy. Despite his immense contributions, Iyer confessed to being a tad disappointed for not finishing off the final match himself.
Elation
Iyer expresses his joy over India's victory
In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Iyer called the feeling of winning the trophy "outstanding" and said he was happy to have contributed to India's triumph. "Outstanding man, I'm running out of words, to be honest. It's a fantastic feeling. I'm extremely happy that I was able to contribute to the team in every way possible and in every game," he said.
Resilience
Iyer's journey to success
Iyer's journey has been one of challenges and triumphs. He was dropped from the BCCI's central contracts list in January 2024 but bounced back to lead Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title win in 2024. Though not retained by KKR, he was bought for ₹26.75 crore by Punjab Kings during the mega auction. He will now lead the Kings. Iyer called his recent experiences "extremely satisfying" and a testament to his hard work finally paying off.