Shreyas Iyer highlights team bonding ahead of IPL season

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer emphasised the importance of team bonding and overcoming challenges ahead of the season, while pacer Arshdeep Singh described handling pressure as a privilege and expressed confidence in strong performances at home

Hyderabad: “This is the period when we live as a family for two months,” said Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer at the launch of Kings jerseys in Chandigarh on Friday.

“The more time we spend together, the more we get to know each other. Now is the time when we build that camaraderie. We spend most of our time in the game room, playing FIFA and other games. The planning for matches usually happens a day or two before the game, but building this bond off the field helps us get better results eventually,” Shreyas Iyer said.

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“It is always challenging to come back after an injury. I had lost around seven kilos and it took a lot of effort to gain that weight back. But I love challenges. I am glad I overcame that part of my life and I am back here proudly representing the team,” he said.

“Expectations are high, which is fun. I love the challenge. But the important thing is that whenever we step in, we have to win. My eye is on the trophy,” the Kings captain said.

Local hero and star pacer Arshdeep Singh said: “When you feel the pressure, it is a privilege,” Arshdeep said. “It is a lot of fun when you get so much support from the crowd. When people cheer for you, you feel that 30,000 people are running in with you at that time. We will try our best to win all our home matches this year.”

“The journey has been amazing,” Arshdeep said. “When I came here for the first time, they gave me full support and showed me my potential. They trusted me a lot when no other team did. I really appreciate that and I want to stay here for a long time. I am looking forward to winning a lot of trophies for the team,” he added.