‘I’m gonna smash you guys’: Aman Khan recalls Shreyas Iyer’s fearless approach | Cricket News

Former KKR all-rounder and Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer‘s close friend, Aman Khan, credited Shreyas’ immense self-confidence and belief through thick and thin as the key factors behind his success. The all-rounder cited Mumbai’s recent Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2024/25 match against Pondicherry as an example of Shreyas’ mental strength and determination to dominate at any cost.
“Shreyas and I were having dinner the night before the match. We were excited about facing off against each other competitively, as Shreyas was representing Mumbai while I was part of the Pondicherry setup. He said, ‘I am gonna smash you guys tomorrow’,” Aman recalled during an interaction with TOI.
“Sure enough, he delivered, scoring an unbeaten 137 off 133 balls against us. While the other Mumbai batters struggled, Shreyas lived up to his words,” he added. Shreyas’ unbeaten knock, which included 16 fours and four sixes, helped Mumbai post a total of 290 after being reduced to 82/5 at one stage.
Aman, who played under Shreyas’ captaincy at KKR in IPL 2022, highlighted his unwavering confidence. “From the very beginning, he was convinced that we would win the IPL. KKR hadn’t won the tournament in 10 years, but Shreyas always believed in the team and encouraged the players to believe in themselves. He’s not the kind of captain who yells or screams on the field, but his aggression in terms of dominating the opposition is undeniable,” he said.

“Yes, there were challenges along the way—Shreyas suffered an injury, and the setup changed across departments. However, his confidence remained unshaken, and that was evident in IPL 2024, where KKR secured a comprehensive league triumph,” Aman added.
Gujarat batter Priyank Panchal also praised Shreyas’ skill and composure, recalling an India-A long-format match against New Zealand-A in 2017.
“The conditions were quite challenging, with the ball bouncing and seaming. While other batters struggled to get bat on ball, Shreyas remained unfazed and smashed 108 off 97 balls. The New Zealand bowling attack featured top performers like Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, and Ish Sodhi, who did everything they could to make life difficult,” Panchal said.
“Shreyas has faced his fair share of challenges over the years—he wasn’t given a BCCI central contract, and there were question marks over his capabilities. But he never lost confidence, which was evident in his contributions to India’s success in the 2024 T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy. Even in something as simple as walking, you can see the confidence he carries. I am confident he has what it takes to end PBKS’ trophy drought in the IPL,” he added.