Shreyas Iyer: 'We played like invincibles throughout the season'

“This is what we demanded from the team and every individual, they stood up on the right occasion,” Shreyas said, after KKR secured a third IPL title, their first since 2014. “It is hard to express how we are feeling right now. The wait was so long. We played like invincibles throughout the season. There is so much to cherish right now.”

“It is pleasing and the performance has been flawless throughout. I am running out of words right now,” Shreyas said of KKR’s season. “We have been tremendous right from game one, and when we stepped [out] all we demanded from ourselves was to back each other no matter the situation. The game could have gone either way. They have been playing phenomenal cricket, SRH, throughout the season.

“Today, we were lucky enough to bowl first and, at the same time, every situation went in our favour. Thanks to SRH [for] the way they have played throughout the season. They have been simply phenomenal.”

“The performance has been flawless throughout. I am running out of words right now. We have been tremendous right from game one.”

KKR captain Shreyas Iyer

“That [big games] is when all the big players stand up,” he said. “It was a high-pressure game. He has been so good off the field. He has never shown any sort of complacency in his work ethic. Every time we used to go for the plunge pool, he used to be there… Something for everyone to learn.”

Shreyas was also effusive in praise of Andre Russell, who picked 3 for 19 off 2.3 overs to finish with 19 wickets for the season, his best tally with the ball at any IPL. “He has got that magic wand, which he is hiding somewhere on the field,” Shreyas said. “He is hoping to come and bowl and deliver for the team. He is waiting for me to call him all the time.

“Russell has been lucky for us. Almost in a majority of the games, whenever he has bowled, he has picked up the wickets and he has given us the breakthrough.”

‘There have been plenty of jokes about the money’ – Starc

“There have been plenty of jokes and what not made about the money,” he said with a laugh after the final. “It’s been a long time since I have played in the IPL. I am certainly an older and more experienced player now. It’s probably helped with managing all the expectations or leading the attack or whatever it maybe. I am certainly glad I am a bit more experienced and older to deal with all of that.

“Personally it has been a lot of fun, been great to learn and see how these guys go about it. Full credit to the whole squad of players and staff, it has made my life pretty easy.

“It is a great night for KKR. What a game, what a series, what a season. It was an upward journey through from the start of the IPL to now, but we have a fantastic squad of bowlers and batters and our staff have been fantastic to get everyone peaking at the back end of the tournament. We have been such a consistent side. We haven’t had one or two people standing out, it’s been contributions from everyone. So, great to contribute personally but I think the fact that we’ve had everyone contribute throughout the year has been a big part of our success.”

“I am enjoying my cricket at the moment, batting, bowling and fielding. What helps is when your team is winning. We have a great bunch of guys who put out a lot of work throughout the season and the fight we gave throughout the season is very good.”

Sunil Narine

‘Couldn’t ask for a better birthday gift’ – Narine

“Getting the role to just go there and express myself, trying to get the team off to a flier, that’s key,” Narine said. “The backing of the support staff, especially GG [Gambhir] just saying – ‘go there and enjoy it, just try to win a few games for the team. I am not asking you to do the entire season, but just a few games.’ That was very good advice.”

Ashish Pant is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo