Star Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer recently shared memories of his first encounter with former New Zealand cricketer and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) player Ross Taylor. The meeting took place when Iyer worked as a ball boy during the IPL’s inaugural seasons in 2008 and 2009. On Sunday, September 7, iQOO India released a YouTube podcast featuring Iyer as the guest.
In the discussion, Iyer expressed his admiration for Taylor and recounted how he first met him as a young ball boy, saying:
“I really liked Ross Taylor. So, during the first game when the fireworks went off, the particles from the fireworks fell all over the ground. We had to go and pick them up. I intentionally ran up to him so that I could say hi. He shook my hand, and then I went back while picking up the fireworks debris.”
The 30-year-old also shared that before making his IPL debut, he was a fan of Mumbai Indians (MI), being a native of the state. Iyer mentioned:
“Mumbai Indians, obviously being from Mumbai, I used to support Mumbai. At the start of the IPL, in the first and second seasons, I was a ball boy. So when we played Under-14 for Mumbai, all the players who participated in the Mumbai Under-14 team were also ball boys. That’s when I got to meet a lot of cricketers.”
“It’s Frustrating”: Shreyas Iyer Opens Up On How Players Feel When Dropped
During the discussion, Shreyas Iyer was questioned about players’ mental approach and how they handle being excluded from the squad. The Mumbai batsman replied:
“It is only frustrating when you know that you deserve to be in the team, in the playing XI. At that time, it’s frustrating. But at the same time, when you know that someone is performing and playing consistently for the team and bringing their best, you support them. And eventually, the goal is for the team to win. When the team is winning, everyone is happy.”
“But as I keep talking about integrity, even if you don’t get a chance, you have to make sure that you do your work ethically. It’s not like you do it only when someone is watching. Even when no one is watching, you have to keep doing your work,” he added.
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