India may have clinched a thriller against West Indies in the second ODI at the Queen's Park Oval on Sunday, overhauling the hosts' total of 311 with only two wickets in hand and as many balls to spare, but Shreyas Iyer saw the lighter side of the pressure situation.
"It was fun, to be honest," Shreyas admitted after the series-clinching win. "We were all sitting together, and Rahul [Dravid] sir was getting very tensed; he was consistently passing on the message.
"I think a lot of players showed really good emotions out there and were very calm and composed in the pressure situation. And since we have played so many matches lately, I think we have already seen all these emotions. It was just another game for us. I think we did pretty well, especially Axar, the way he finished off today. It was an outstanding knock."
Shreyas himself led the way with his second successive half-century of the series, stroking a 71-ball 63, which steadied the Indian innings after they had slipped from 48 for no loss to 79 for 3. The Indian No.3 forged a 99-run partnership with Sanju Samson for the fourth wicket to lay the foundation of India's run chase.
"It was a crucial partnership. We lost two back-to-back wickets. We were 60 for 3 (79/3), and from there, we had to rebuild. Sanju came in and obviously showed a lot of intent. I was already batting. I had faced around 20 balls and was batting on 15. I knew what I was going to do, and Sanju at the same time, faced a few balls, and then he went after the spinners. He hit them for two sixes, and suddenly, the momentum shifted towards us. From there onwards, we built on the partnership and carried forward the momentum."
Despite playing a useful hand in his team's narrow win, Iyer isn't pleased with the manner of his dismissal. He has so far scored 11 fifties and a hundred in 26 ODI innings.
"Really fortunate to get to consecutive half-centuries. But I should have converted it into a century. You don't get such kind of starts every time in international cricket. The more you convert your fifties into hundreds, the better it is. Today was a golden opportunity for me to convert my innings. But at the same time as long as the team is winning, I am happy to contribute.
"I was really happy to get to what score I got today. But was unhappy with the way I got dismissed. I thought that I could have taken the team through easily and set up the total, but I was very unfortunate with the way I got out. Hopefully, I will be able to score a century in the next one."
Iyer, who has predominantly batted at No.3 in domestic cricket and even in the IPL has had to occupy lower positions while playing for India, with the presence of Virat Kohli at No.3. In his absence, the Mumbai batter has filled in well and claims that it's a position that he enjoys batting at.
"It is a fun position to bat at, and I really enjoy it. It is one of the best positions to bat because you go into a very tough situation if the wicket falls in early. You go in and you have to see the new ball and then build your innings. Also if the openers have got into a really good partnership, then you have to go carry forward that momentum, take it on from where they have left and see to it that the run rate is maintained."
There is a strong possibility that when Virat Kohli returns to the XI, Shreyas's position might have to be re-jigged, that is if he manages to retain a place in the XI despite the good run of scores. However, he isn't too worried about that.
"Playing in the team is not in my hand. What I can do is train hard off the field and see to it that you know whenever I get the opportunity, I have to maximise it, and that's what I have been doing, Today and the day before yesterday, I got the opportunity to represent my country that I feel is bigger than anything. I gave my 100 per cent, and when I left the field, I had no regrets.
"Hard work off the field always pays off. This is the reflection of what you do off the field. I am working hard because wickets and conditions are changing frequently, and you have to stay fit and keep motivating yourself. My mindset is that I will do my work and try to control the controllable."
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