Shreyas Iyer's Father Explains Why He Did Not Change His WhatsApp DP Since 2017

Shreyas Iyer scored an incredible 75* against New Zealand on Thursday to kick off his Test career.

Shreyas made his Test debut on Thursday against New Zealand at the Greenpark Stadium in Kanpur. He came into bat when India were 106/3, having lost both its openers to Kyle Jamieson followed by senior batter Cheteshwar Pujara’s departure.

Shreyas has been in India’s white-ball plans since 2017 and had to wait for another four years to wear the whites for India.

I literally wanted Shreyas Iyer to play Test for India: Santosh Iyer

Although Shreyas was part of India’s Test squad as a cover for skipper Virat Kohli in the fourth Test against Australia in 2017, he didn’t get a chance to play.

India won that series 2-1 and Iyer was clicked holding the trophy, a picture his father Santosh Iyer has kept as his profile picture on WhatsApp for more than four years. Iyer’s father said that he wanted his son to play Test for India from that moment.

“Yeah, this DP (of Shreyas holding Border Gavaskar Trophy) was always close to my heart because when he was playing against Australia, he was a stand-by in place of Virat Kohli, in Dharamshala,” Santosh told news agency PTI.

“So that time after winning the match, they (team-mates) handed over the trophy to him (Shreyas), just to hold it, so that moment was very prestigious for me.”

“Shreyas holding the (BG) trophy and I literally wanted him to play for India at that moment. And I was thinking on those lines, like when will he get an opportunity to really be in the team and perform in the Test match,” he added.

That was the happiest moment in my life: Santosh on Shreyas Iyer to get his Test debut

Just a day before the first Test, India’s stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane confirmed Shreyas Iyer would be playing in the team. Santosh said he was very delighted to hear Rahane’s announcement.

“So, when Ajinkya Rahane declared that Shreyas is going to play, that was the happiest moment in my life, more than getting selected for any other (format) IPL or one-day, this was very prestigious for me (as) this is a real form of cricket,” Santosh said.

Shreyas Iyer received his Test cap from legendary Indian player Sunil Gavaskar and his father said it was a proud moment for him as he happens to be a great fan of the former Indian batter.

“Sunil Gavaskar is one of my favourite cricketers and it was absolutely a proud moment. It is a great moment. I don’t have words to express (the joy),” Santosh concluded.

India were 258/4 at the end of Day 1 against the Black Caps as Shreyas walked unbeaten alongside all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (50*).

Also Read: IND vs NZ 2021: Good Start For Shreyas Iyer In His Test Career: Rohit Sharma