Shreyas Iyer dismissed concerns about his short-ball weakness, saying his improved technique and confidence from domestic cricket have strengthened his game.
Shreyas Iyer has often faced scrutiny over his consistency and ability to handle short-pitched bowling. However, his recent performances in ODIs, especially against England’s Jofra Archer, have showcased his progress. His aggressive stroke play has strengthened his position at No. 4 in India’s batting lineup.
Iyer’s confidence has grown significantly, with domestic cricket playing a key role. He played several matches this season, striking sixes off challenging deliveries. He noted that proving a point to critics is not his focus. Instead, his goal remains to play his best cricket. His performances, he believes, speak for themselves.
“In terms of the confidence, yes. But you look at my domestic season, I played so many this year and hit sixes off difficult deliveries. I gained a lot of confidence from that. Technically, I was able to get a wide stance and create a great base, which enabled me to generate that force,” Iyer said to The Hindustan Times.
“I don’t have to send any message to anyone. All I have to do is believe in myself and play the best cricket possible. The message automatically gets delivered,” Iyer added.
Shreyas Iyer Gears Up for IPL 2025 After Champions Trophy Final
Shreyas Iyer will next lead Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, with their campaign starting against Gujarat Titans on March 25 in Ahmedabad. Before that, he played a key role in India’s Champions Trophy final win against New Zealand on March 9.
In the middle overs, Iyer built a crucial fourth-wicket partnership with Axar Patel while handling spin pressure. His intention to stay till the end was evident, but an aggressive shot against Mitchell Santner led to his dismissal.
“It was my intention (to bat on). If you remember we were going ball to ball and if I could have got a boundary off that ball (against Mitchell Santner), it would have been different,” Iyer said.
As one of India’s most reliable No. 4 batters, Iyer’s contributions earned praise. With IPL approaching, Iyer will look to extend his strong form.
