Shreyas Iyer made a remarkable impact in the opening match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 for Mumbai, scoring an impressive 114* runs off just 55 balls while batting at number five. His performance was instrumental in guiding the team to a formidable total of 382/4 against Karnataka, signalling a strong intent. Having recently captained Mumbai to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Iyer now leads the List A team as well. His explosive innings included 10 sixes, showcasing his exceptional power and skill in the middle order during 50-over matches.

Iyer's innings echoed his outstanding century against New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup semifinal. He entered the game after a solid start, thanks to a 141-run partnership between Ayush Mhatre (78) and Hardik Tamore (84). With the freedom to attack, Iyer showed no restraint against the Karnataka bowlers, achieving his 13th List A century at an impressive strike rate of 207.27.

In the closing overs, Iyer received excellent support from Shivam Dube, who remained unbeaten with 63* runs off 36 balls, contributing to a fierce assault by the Mumbai batsmen at the Narendra Modi Stadium B Ground in Ahmedabad. The pair came together at 238-4 in the 40th over and added 144 runs in just 65 balls to conclude Mumbai’s innings.

Iyer's outstanding domestic season continues, both as a captain and a batsman. He accumulated 345 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at an extraordinary strike rate of 188.5, leading Mumbai to victory. Additionally, he has scored 452 runs in the first five matches of the Ranji Trophy season, averaging 90.4, as Mumbai aims to defend their title in this prestigious First Class tournament.

Moreover, Iyer successfully led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL championship, marking his first title as captain, as KKR dominated the tournament. Following this success, he secured a lucrative contract worth 26.75 crore rupees in the IPL auction, being acquired by Punjab Kings as they strive for their inaugural IPL title.

Shreyas to be India's x-factor again?

Iyer's recent performances are likely to secure his position in the middle order of the Indian ODI team. The return of Rishabh Pant has raised uncertainties regarding Iyer's status as the incumbent leading up to the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.

Nevertheless, with an impressive tally of 530 runs in the World Cup, boasting a strike rate of 113.24 and an average of 66.25, Iyer has clearly communicated to the selectors his determination to maintain his influential role in the Indian middle order, a position he has excelled in recently.

Mumbai aims to commence their campaign in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with a victory, as their talented and high-profile squad seeks to secure multiple major Indian domestic titles and uphold their dominance in domestic cricket.

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