After scoring a century on Test debut against New Zealand, Indian batter Shreyas Iyer talked about his love-affair with the Green Park ground in Kanpur.
Shreyas had a dream debut as he scored a century and bailed his team out of trouble. The right-handed batter came to bat when the hosts were tumbling at 106/3.
Iyer then along with skipper Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha stitched important partnerships and helped his team post a respectable first-innings total of 345 runs on the board. His stay on the crease was cut short by Tim Southee for 105 as he handed an easy catch to Will Young.
Read Also: Mayank Agarwal pulls off a Joe Root by fielding on his knees at second slip
While talking to Suryakumar Yadav in a video posted on BCCI, Shreyas Iyer revealed that Kanpur has been lucky for him as he also cemented his place in Mumbai Ranji Trophy team on the same venue under the leadership of the former and bailed his team out of trouble, adding crucial runs with the tailenders, when they were tumbling after losing their first five wickets cheaply.
He also recalled his 93-run knock in IPL at the same venue, saying that the ground has been the luckiest he ever played at.
"Kanpur stadium has been really lucky for me. My debut Ranji season was under Suryakumar's captainship and I would like to thank him for backing me after my first four innings because I thought I would be out of the team. And then we were kind of in the same situation when we came to Kanpur.
“We were 20 or 30 for 5 and then I made a 150-run partnership with the tail-enders and got to a good position for the team. Even in the IPL, I scored 93 here. So, one of the luckiest cricket grounds I have ever played at," Shreyas Iyer said.
Talking about receiving the Test cap from Sunil Gavaskar, Iyer said he was not expecting to receive it from the Indian legend and revealed what batting great told him while giving him the cap.
"I obviously knew that I would be playing two days prior and I had visualized the entire scene in my mind. I thought Rahul Dravid sir will present me with the debut Test cap, I was not expecting to receive it from Sunil Gavaskar sir.
“Both are legends of the game, either of them would have given me the cap, I would have been happy and it is a great feeling. Sunil Gavaskar motivated me with his wise words and gave me the cap and I kissed it. This is what I had visualized doing before getting the cap," he said.
(ANI inputs)
