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"My intensity starts to go down": Shreyas Iyer reveals why he took a break from Test cricket

Jatin

Shreyas Iyer took a six-month break from Tests [Source: @ShreyasIyer15/x.com]Shreyas Iyer took a six-month break from Tests [Source: @ShreyasIyer15/x.com]

Shreyas Iyer has finally opened up about his decision to step away from red-ball cricket for six months, a move that left many fans scratching their heads. After all, he is one of the few modern Indian batters who can counterattack with authority and absorb pressure with calm.

Shreyas Iyer sheds light on decision to skip Tests

But as Shreyas Iyer explained, the grind of Test cricket was starting to take a toll, not just on his body, but on his energy levels too. Speaking after his solid 61-run knock in India’s narrow two-wicket loss to Australia in Adelaide, the 29-year-old admitted that he was finding it tough to sustain the same intensity needed for five-day cricket.

“When I played red-ball cricket after the IPL, I realised that if I field for long spells on the ground, my intensity starts to go down. And the intensity that you need to maintain in international cricket, I wasn't able to match up to it. In ODIs, you know you will get rest after one day and be able to recover. Not in Tests. That is why I made that call, and conveyed that message," ” Iyer said after the match.

Iyer had captained India A in a recent series against Australia A but opted out of the second unofficial Test due to back pain, a recurrence of the same lower-back injury that had forced him to undergo surgery in London last year. It wasn’t a decision made overnight, but one born out of practicality.

Working on the craft

Far from sitting idle, Iyer used his time away to fine-tune his technique and ensure his body was match-ready for the white-ball formats. He revealed that he has gone back to a more upright stance something that has helped him tackle bounce and seam better on tricky surfaces.

“The technique I've got lately is not something that I've changed suddenly,” he said. “Since last year, I wanted to have an upright stance, especially on wickets where the bounce is a little more than expected. I grew up playing with that kind of stance, so I just thought of going back to my old method and seeing how it works out.”

Building back confidence

In Adelaide, Iyer’s knock came under pressure after India’s top order collapsed early against brilliant spells of Aussie bowlers. But his calm partnership of 118 runs with Rohit Sharma steadied the ship.

Meanwhile, for now, Iyer’s focus remains on limited-overs cricket, where his attacking mindset and adaptability continue to serve India well.