Following India’s triumph in the Champions Trophy, captain Rohit Sharma specifically praised Shreyas Iyer, recognizing him as a ‘silent hero’ who provided crucial stability in the middle order. The crowd in Dubai celebrated India’s four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final. Throughout the tournament, India’s middle order, with Iyer being a key component, played a vital role in rescuing the team from top-order collapses and building match-winning partnerships.
In the post-match press conference, Rohit Sharma expressed his pride in the team, stating, “I am very proud of this team. We knew the conditions would be challenging, but we adapted well. In the first game against Bangladesh, even though it was a score of only 230, the wicket was slow. We needed strong partnerships, and our batters delivered.”
While India’s strong batting lineup was beneficial, Shreyas Iyer distinguished himself with his composure and aggressive approach.
Despite not scoring centuries, his consistent performance made him India’s highest run-scorer in the tournament, only surpassed by Rachin Ravindra overall. Shreyas accumulated 243 runs in five matches, averaging 48.60.
Rohit emphasized Shreyas’s importance by referencing several crucial partnerships he formed throughout the tournament, highlighting his value in India’s successful campaign.
Rohit noted, “We can’t forget the silent hero, Shreyas Iyer, who was outstanding throughout the tournament. He played a very important role in the middle order. His partnerships with other batsmen were crucial, such as in the semi-final against Australia with Virat, and even in the league game against Pakistan and New Zealand.”
Even in the final, after Rohit’s dismissal, Shreyas ensured India remained steady.
He formed a 61-run partnership with Axar Patel, diminishing New Zealand’s chances of winning the title. Shreyas was eventually dismissed while attempting to attack Mitchell Santner.
Rohit added, “Even in today’s match, when I got out and we had lost three wickets, we needed a 50 to 70 run partnership, which Shreyas and Axar achieved. When players perform like this, understanding and adapting to the conditions, it is very rewarding.”
