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'The Competition Is With Myself...': Shreyas Iyer Opens Up About His Recent Struggles

Shreyas Iyer, Pat Cummins with IPL 2024 trophy (AP)Shreyas Iyer, Pat Cummins with IPL 2024 trophy (AP)

Indian and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) middle order batter, Shreyas Iyer, who has just led his IPL franchise to another final, has opened up about his struggles with his fitness post the ICC Cricket World Cup last year.

Reportedly, when he got dropped after some low scores in Tests, Iyer complained about a groin issue and ruled himself out of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Baroda. This didn't sit well with the Indian management, as they had informed the players who were not on national duty to play Ranji Trophy.

The mentioned incident led to the explosive middle-order batter, who was India's third-highest run scorer at the World Cup with 530 runs at an average of 66.25 behind Virat Kohli (765) and Rohit Sharma (597), losing his central contract.

In a recent interview with Sportskeeda, the 29-year-old talked up his struggles after the period of World Cup, leading up to the IPL.

"I was struggling after the World Cup in the longer format. When I raised my concern, no one was agreeing to it. But at the same time, the competition is with myself," said Iyer.

On approaching the IPL and how KKR went about their business, adding:

"When IPL was approaching, all I wanted was to see to it that I put in my best foot forward and whatever planning and strategizing we did before it, if we could execute it to the best of our ability, we would have been a great spot and that's where we are now."

Iyer also praised Gautam Gambhir for the way he has joined the franchise and instantly elevated the team, saying:

"I feel he has immense knowledge about how the game is played, he has won two titles with KKR and his strategies have been spot on in terms of what execution we have to make. He adds a lot of cream in the team. Hopefully, we continue with the same momentum in the final as well with his knowledge being put out there."

The KKR skipper recently scored a fantastic unbeaten 24-ball-58 to guide them into the final against SRH. In this season, he has scored 345 runs at a strike rate of 146 in 13 innings.