India batter Shreyas Iyer recalled meeting New Zealand legend Ross Taylor as a ball boy in the initial seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Shreyas rushed into the ground to shake hands with Taylor when the fireworks went off during one of the matches featuring the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Speaking on a YouTube podcast for iQOO India, Iyer expressed his admiration for Taylor and described how he first met the former Kiwi skipper.

“I really liked Ross Taylor. So, during the first game, when the fireworks went off, the particles from the fireworks fell all over the ground. We had to go and pick them up. I intentionally ran up to him so that I could say hi. He shook my hand and then I went back while picking up the fireworks debris," Iyer narrated.

The 30-year-old revealed that before making his IPL debut, Mumbai Indians were his favourite franchise as he comes from that state.

“Mumbai Indians, obviously, being from Mumbai, I used to support Mumbai. At the start of the IPL, in the first and second seasons, I was a ball boy. So when we played Under-14 for Mumbai, all the players who participated in the Mumbai Under-14 team were also ball boys. That’s when I got to meet a lot of cricketers," Iyer said.

In the same conversation, Shreyas Iyer opened up on his Asia Cup 2025 snub, citing that while being left out is frustrating at times, one should support if some other player is doing well and contributing to the team's wins.

“It is only frustrating when you know that you deserve to be in the team, in the playing XI. At that time, it’s frustrating. But at the same time, when you know that someone is performing and playing consistently for the team and bringing their best, you support them," the right-hander said.

“And eventually, the goal is for the team to win. When the team is winning, everyone is happy," Iyer added.