MI vs KKR: Shreyas Iyer not able to digest BCCI Central Contract Snub? Abhishek Nayar issues an official statement

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) assistant coach Abhishek Nayar recently lauded skipper Shreyas Iyer for his mental strength and positive mindset despite facing challenges during the past few months. Abhishek Nayar described Shreyas Iyer as one of the mentally strongest people he has ever known.

Shreyas Iyer showcased exceptional form during the ODI World Cup 2023. The batter scored a century off just 67 balls against New Zealand in the semifinal clash. However, he scored just four runs in the final against Australia. He scored 530 runs at an average of 66.25, including two centuries and three fifties.

However, the 29-year-old batter struggled in a two-match Test series against South Africa. Iyer was dropped from the Test squad after two matches against England. He lost his central contract after not playing for Mumbai despite BCCI's directive. He wasn't picked in India's squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Shreyas Iyer Is One Of The Strongest People - Abhishek Nair

Abhishek Nayar stated how Shreyas Iyer accepts challenges without complaint or negativity. The former Indian cricketer stated that Iyer always thinks positively of whatever comes his way.

"He is one of the strongest people, mentally, I have ever known, just in terms of how he has accepted certain things that have happened with him. I would have seen a lot of people cribbing and talking about it, but I haven't heard him whine about it or complain about it at all. The way he has approached life is in a positive manner - what is in front of you, you try and accept it," Nayar said on Thursday.

Shreyas Iyer returned to the IPL 2024 season after missing last year's tournament due to injury. The middle-order batter has led the KKR team to second place in the points table. KKR has secured six wins out of nine matches. He has scored 251 runs at an average of 41.83 and a strike rate of 137.16.

Shreyas Iyer Has Taken It Very Positively - Abhishek Nair

Abhishek Nair stated that Shreyas Iyer is better now and training hard with support from strength and conditioning and physios. Nair said that Iyer is determined to perform better despite being rejected.

"Certain things are not in under his control but his fitness is in his control, and he is feeling a lot better now. He is great on the field, he is batting longer hours, he has trained really hard. Our S&Cs (strength and conditioning) and physios have worked hard with him," Nayar stated.

"Mentally, to have a mindset like that after being rejected or not getting his due, he has taken it very positively. Even when he talks about it, he is not negative, he understands he needs to go back and do well," he further added.

Shreyas Iyer will be next seen in action when the Kolkata Knight Riders take on the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday, May 3. The Hardik Pandya-led team is currently in ninth place in the points table, having won three matches out of 10 this season.

Also read: MI vs SRH: "I am a genuine all-rounder" - Nitish Kumar Reddy's response to Ajit Agarkar's comments on Hardik Pandya