Shreyas Iyer Scores Much-Awaited First-Class Hundred In Ranji Trophy, Ends Three-Year-Long Wait

India batter Shreyas Iyer finally ended his wait for a first-class hundred, as he scored a patient 101 against Maharashtra for Mumbai during their Ranji Trophy encounter on Saturday, October 19. This was his first FC century in three years, the last being his only Test hundred that he had scored in his debut Test against New Zealand in November 2021.Walking in at number five for Mumbai at the loss of skipper Ajinkya Rahane who looked well set at 31, Iyer steered Mumbai past Maharashtra’s first-innings score alongside young opener Ayush Mhatre, who scored a stunning 176 before being dismissed.Iyer and Mhatre built a 200-run partnership for the fourth wicket to take Mumbai to a comfortable position. While the latter was eventually dismissed by Hitesh Malunj, Iyer proceeded to his century in 131 deliveries with the help of nine boundaries and three sixes. Iyer's last appearance in India colours was in the ODI series against Sri Lanka in August. He played his last Test against England in February and poor returns in the Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup meant that he wasn't selected for either the Bangladesh or the New Zealand Tests. Iyer completed 6000 first-class runs during his innings on Saturday. This hundred was his 14th in first-class cricket, besides 33 half-centuries. In the Duleep Trophy, Iyer just managed 154 runs in six knocks, with two half-centuries and as many ducks. The latter didn't send a good sign to the selectors and there was no chance for him to be picked for the two Tests against Bangladesh. In the following Irani Cup tie for Mumbai, Iyer managed 57 and just eight across two knocks. With India having thrashed Bangladesh 2-0, not many changes were made to the squad and Iyer didn't find a place yet again, with inconsistency increasing. Iyer's Ranji Trophy campaign didn't begin on a high either, as he scored a duck and 30 in two innings against Baroda as Mumbai surprisingly lost the match by 84 runs. Iyer, besides Ishan Kishan, were excluded from the BCCI Central Contracts list this year when they were deemed to have skipped domestic games. Notably, the latter too scored a hundred against Railways on Friday.