Captaincy gets best out of me: Shreyas

Shreyas Iyer, who was named captain of the India A team for the upcoming ODI series, said captaincy has helped him being more responsible as a batsman.

The current Delhi Daredevils skipper is enjoying a dream IPL campaign, scoring 351 runs in 10 matches so far. He believes captaincy helps him take the responsibility and stay till the end.

"It's a great feeling to lead the India A side. It's not that I haven't done that before, I also led against the New Zealand A team. I think captaincy gets the best out of me," he said.

"I learnt how to be responsible in batting. Previously, I used to just throw away my wicket and now gradually I started rotating and taking the match till the end. It has made me more aware of the conditions and getting acclimatized to the atmosphere around and taking the responsibility and finishing the game till the end," he added.

Besides, Iyer said his 2014 stint with club cricket in England will come in handy during next month's tri-series. Four years ago, Iyer played for Trent Bridge Cricket Team, scoring 297 runs at an average of 99 with a highest score of 171.

"Playing club cricket in England has been really helpful for me and the wickets were really tough out there and I played in the seaming conditions. Obviously, the attacks weren't as great as compared to the international level, but it was a great exposure for me to go out there and get acclimatized to the conditions. It also helped me get a lot of responsibility as an individual and made me grow as a player," recalled the 23-year-old player.

When asked on the biggest challenge of playing in England, Iyer replied, "The swing conditions is the first thing and you play at the best wickets were the conditions and the atmosphere is totally different compared to India. The bowlers will have an upper hand over there. Looking at the ICC Champions Trophy, which lately happened, the wickets were really flat and hopefully I get to play in the same wickets."

Shreyas was part of the ODI squad, which trounced South Africa 5-1 in their own backyard. He said sharing the dressing room with the senior players was a great experience.

"Sharing the dressing room with the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, you get to learn a lot and also you try and pick up little bit of their abilities. Als,o in the net practice they give more than their 100% and will try to improve each and every day," he explained.

The India A tour of England will start with an ODI tri-series against England Lions (A team) and West Indies A, from June 22.

"It's a big opportunity to play again overseas. Playing abroad is going to be really important because next year's World Cup will be in England and if I score really well there, I might be there in the reckoning. Also with the current form I'm in, it will be really helpful for me to play in England and get as much as experience possible," he said.

Iyer felt India A tour would be the perfect build-up for the ODI series in England.

"Prior to the ODI series it would be a great opportunity for me to get to know the wickets over there, it will be a great experience," he concluded.