Star Indian batter Shreyas Iyer recently voiced his frustration over the unsolicited advice he often receives about his batting technique, particularly regarding his perceived weakness against short-pitched deliveries. Iyer, a vital middle-order batter for India, had an impressive 2023 ODI World Cup, scoring 530 runs in 11 innings at an average of 66.25, including two centuries and three fifties.
His consistency in that campaign helped silence many critics, yet the chatter around his struggles against pace and short balls persists. Shreyas Iyer shared his irritation, particularly when the advice comes from individuals who have never faced deliveries at speeds over 150 km/h.
“It’s irritating, especially when it comes from people who haven’t faced 150 km per hour deliveries, advising you to play in a particular way,” Shreyas Iyer said, as quoted by The Indian Express. He added that while he respects others’ opinions, such advice should be kept among peers rather than directed at the player. “They have all the right to talk, but they can talk between themselves, not to the player directly.”
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Despite the constant external chatter, Shreyas Iyer has stayed focused on improving his game. In an effort to enhance his power-hitting, particularly for T20s, Iyer has been exploring unconventional techniques. He shared that he has been studying baseball techniques to improve his shoulder and hip separation for better power generation.
“I have seen a lot of videos on YouTube on how you get the shoulder and hip separation. That has helped me a lot in terms of power-hitting, especially in T20s, where you switch gears and try to accelerate at any given point,” he said.
Shreyas Iyer slammed haters:
“It’s irritating when people, who haven’t played 150 kmph deliveries give u suggestions. It is their opinion & they have the right to say anything but it should be between them & not directly to players”.
– Indian Expresspic.twitter.com/oEVjm60TJK
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) January 21, 2025
In addition to his cricket career, Shreyas Iyer made headlines when he reportedly skipped a domestic match for his home state, leading to his exclusion from the BCCI’s annual contract list for 2024-25. However, the 29-year-old was acquired by Punjab Kings for INR 26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, becoming the second-most expensive player in the league’s history.
“During the auction, we were in Hyderabad, watching it from our rooms. I expected a good amount, but I never thought there would be such competition between two teams over me. Overall, I was thrilled,” he said.
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Iyer has been named in India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai and will also play in the three-match ODI series against England ahead of the tournament, where he aims to continue his rise and solidify his place in India’s middle order.
