Shreyas Iyer opened up on the mantra that he followed to reclaim his place back in the Indian team after a roller-coaster one and a half years.

After an all-time great campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Iyer struggled with recurring back injury and then lost his BCCI central contract owing to disciplinary issues. He was dropped from the Test side and was not considered for selection in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad as well.

Shreyas made a return to the ODI team during the England series at home last month, where he initially admitted he wasn't the first-choice to be in the lineup. However, Virat Kohli’s injury paved the way for his inclusion in the playing XI for the opening ODI.

Since then, the 30-year-old has made a great impact for his side and has amassed 150 runs in three matches in the ongoing Champions Trophy, including two half-centuries.

Speaking to the broadcasters after India's final Group A win over New Zealand, Shreyas said that the last 1.5 years taught him how to take responsibility for himself rather than depend on someone else.

"It has definitely taught me a lot as a person, as an individual, on how to take the responsibility on myself rather than depending on someone else because over a period of time, I realised that it's only you versus you. No one is going to be there to help you in your tough times, but there are only limited people who would be there and you know them very closely. So yeah, I've been just backing myself and showing that sort of confidence in every situation I enter in. I always love to back my instincts," Shreyas stated.

"I keep saying that again and again, and I think that's what has helped me in the last 1.5 years. And also the technique that I've developed. I think we had a vivid chat about it. But other than that, just to stay in the present as much as possible and not to dwell in those thoughts which has happened in the past," he added.

Shreyas Iyer also reflected on his partnership with Axar Patel, which helped India recover from a top-order collapse against New Zealand. While Shreyas slammed 79 runs, Axar scored 42 as they stitched together a 98-run stand.

"Yeah, obviously you see the ball was coming a bit slowly onto the bat initially. And it was important and crucial for the team to build a partnership from there on, and Axar I think it played a brilliant knock to get those crucial 40 runs for the team, and we almost got a partnership of 100, which was essential at that point of time. So, yeah, that was the mindset just to keep ticking the scoreboard. And that we get boundaries here and there which can possibly get the momentum towards us," he remarked.

India are due to face Australia in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (March 4).