Shreyas Iyer has dismissed any notion that his confident strokes against Jofra Archer’s short-pitched deliveries in India’s ODI series against England were meant to send a ‘message’ to critics. Instead, the stylish middle-order batter emphasized that his approach is purely driven by self-belief and playing his best cricket.
Iyer’s ability to handle short-pitched bowling has been under scrutiny, but his recent performances have silenced doubts. Reflecting on his evolving technique, he credited his domestic experience for his growing confidence.
“In terms of confidence, yes. But if you look at my domestic season, I played so many games this year and hit sixes off difficult deliveries. That gave me a lot of belief. Technically, I worked on getting a wide stance and creating a strong base, which allowed me to generate more power,” Shreyas Iyer told The Hindustan Times.
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When asked if he was trying to prove a point, Iyer was clear in his response. “I don’t have to send any message to anyone. My job is to believe in myself and play my best cricket. The message will automatically get delivered,” he added.
Q: That was as good a message as any that you were ready to deal with the short ball?
Shreyas 🎙️: 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. pic.twitter.com/o8TIkHyGV4
— Pick-up Shot (@96ShreyasIyer) March 18, 2025
The 29-year-old will now turn his focus to IPL 2025, where he will lead the Punjab Kings. Their campaign begins on March 25 against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. His recent form in the Champions Trophy 2025 was also crucial for India, particularly in the final against New Zealand. Tasked with stabilizing the innings, Iyer stitched a vital partnership with Axar Patel, though he fell short of taking India across the line.
Reflecting on that moment, Shreyas Iyer said, “It was my intention to bat deep. If I could have got a boundary off that ball (against Mitchell Santner), things could have been different.”
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Despite that setback, Iyer’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. His skipper Rohit Sharma hailed him as a “silent hero” after India’s Champions Trophy triumph, cementing his status as one of India’s most reliable No. 4 batters.
