IPL 8: Friends change loyalties to root for DD's Mumbai-based SS Iyer

While the majority at the Wankhede Stadium rooted for Mumbai Indians, there was little support for Delhi Daredevils thanks to Shreyas Iyer

While the majority at the Wankhede Stadium rooted for Mumbai Indians, there was little support for Delhi Daredevils thanks to Shreyas Iyer.

Shreyas Iyer’s friends enjoy the atmosphere at the Wankhede yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble

Ten friends of the Mumbai-based Delhi Daredevils opener were out in full force to cheer for Iyer. A couple of his friends wore Iyer’s India U-19 World Cup jersey bearing the same number — 41 — as his DD jersey number.

“We have changed our loyalties for this match. We are here to root for Shreyas and Delhi Daredevils. It is such a proud feeling to watch him in the flesh,” said Samay Lalwani, one of Iyer’s friends.

Iyer arranged for a few tickets while some of his other friends bought theirs on the Internet. His friends, mostly his mates from his Adarsh Nagar colony in Worli, could not make it to the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday when Delhi Daredevils faced Rajasthan Royals.

The moment JP Duminy opted to bat, the excitement on their faces was palpable. They just couldn’t stop clapping when 20-year-old Iyer walked out of the dugout with his opening partner Mayank Agarwal.

He started off cautiously after losing his partner on the first ball of the innings off Lasith Malinga. Iyer’s two consecutive fours off Mitchell McClenaghan in the fourth over sent his friends in a frenzy. They pumped their fists. A ball later, their hearts skipped a beat when Mumbai Indians’ Hardik Pandya and Jagadeesha Suchith put down a catch in the cover region.

Iyer slammed McClenaghan’s last ball for a boundary over mid-on which made them go bonkers. His friends cheered for every run that came off Iyer’s blade.

While the Wankhede crowd was overjoyed after Iyer’s slog went horribly wrong and was caught at short third man by R Vinay Kumar off Harbhajan Singh, Iyer’s friends were left stunned and gutted. His 19 came off 18 balls.

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