Shreyas Iyer has been making steady progress as India’s new No.4 hope. The Mumbai batsman claims that nowadays he is in more control of himself.

“I think that (controlling the aggressive nature) comes with maturity and responsibility. I was a flamboyant player when I started playing first-class cricket. I never used to take responsibility and just backed my instincts.

“Lately, I’ve realised that once you play at the highest level, you’ve got to take that maturity to another stage. You have to play according to the situation. And that’s what I did the other day (in Chennai),” Shreyas said after India’s practice session at the Barabati Stadium, on the eve of the final ODI versus the Windies.

“The team didn’t want big shots from me at that time, we just needed a big partnership. We needed to keep the scoreboard ticking. And that’s what I did.”

Shreyas insisted that he is flexible batting at any slot. “I’ve batted at No. 5 in the previous ODI series (in the West Indies back in August). I’m flexible that way. It’s just that you got to play according to the situation and bat where the team needs you to. And that’s what I did, and I know that I can play in both flows.

“I can play strokes and I can even nudge the ball and take singles, so I know my game really well right now,” he assessed.

In the words of Pravin Amre, his childhood coach, Shreyas has “learnt his lessons.”

“For two years, Shreyas was in and out of the team despite being a consistent run-getter for India A and in the Ranji Trophy. But it’s not just about the previous two ODIs. I think his improvement dates back to the one-dayers in the West Indies where he made contributions in India’s series win there,” the former India middle-order batsman told The Telegraph.

Amre said taking over the Delhi Capitals captaincy has helped Shreyas take up bigger responsibility. “Shreyas is World Cup material. In the last two matches, he has answered those who questioned whether he was good enough to play at this level.”