Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer claims that his inability to deal with short-pitched bowling motivated him to get better. Speaking on JioStar, Iyer claimed that criticism turned into a pivotal moment in his career.
“People said I would never fix my short-ball problem. That triggered me. I wanted to prove them wrong by performing well. So, I worked hard on it,” he said.
Iyer acknowledged that in the past, he cautiously played short balls, frequently searching for singles. He is now taking an aggressive stance. He looks to score a lot if the delivery is within his range.
“Earlier, I would just take a single or try to keep the ball down. But now my mindset has changed. If I see a short ball in my zone, I am going to hit it for a six,”
Iyer attributed his technical improvement to batting coach Abhishek Nayar and mentor Pravin Amre. He claimed that encountering more over 300 balls during lengthy, practical practice sessions has enhanced his skills.
“During my batting practice, I try to play around 50 overs and face over 300 balls. That helps me understand what works for me,” he said.
He noted that he has improved his timing and movement by practicing against actual bowlers rather than just using throwdowns.
“The more I face bowlers, the clearer my movement becomes. I focus on creating a rhythm.”
Iyer added that he takes inspiration from players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and AB de Villiers and concentrates on rhythm and balance at the crease. “Just before the bowler delivers, I try to get into my position quickly. That creates a flow. You must have seen AB de Villiers do that. Even Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have that rhythm before playing their shots. I try to do the same.”
The PBKS captain claimed that he is motivated by the desire to disprove detractors, particularly following setbacks like injuries. He emphasized that the secret to making a comeback is having a positive outlook.
“I have people around me who say that in this situation, you can’t do it. It’s impossible. I don’t like hearing that. As a cricketer playing at the highest level, I just can’t accept it. Then, in my mind, I decide that I have to prove them wrong. The challenge becomes: ‘I was in this situation, how can I come back stronger?’ I push myself harder and try to return as soon as possible to prove them wrong.”
“That thought keeps driving me, especially after injuries. When I had my back injury, some people said I would never be the same again. I asked myself, why can’t I be? The way you shape your mindset after an injury is important. You choose what to focus on and what to ignore,” he added.
