Shreyas Iyer has maintained his denial of a vulnerability to short-pitched bowling, claiming that such a perception was fabricated by the media. “What do you mean when you say it’s a problem for me?” he retorted to a reporter on Thursday night following the India-Sri Lanka match at the Wankhede. “Am I troubled? “Have you counted the number of pull shots that I’ve completed, particularly those that landed on fours?”
Iyer encountered a deluge of inquiries concerning his recent lackluster performance and perceived susceptibility to short-pitched deliveries, factors that contributed to his decline in recent matches. Iyer, on the other hand, was defiant as he scored 82 off 66 balls with six sixes and three fours.
“Regardless of the pitch quality (short or overpitched), an attempt to strike a projectile will inevitably result in an out. Would you agree that it is acceptable for him to be unable to play an in-swinging ball, a cut, or a seaming ball if I am bowled twice or thrice?
“As players, we are inevitably going to be left out on any type of delivery.” The milieu that you have created outside prevents him from playing short balls. Additionally, I have the impression that individuals are occasionally recognizing this, and it stays in your mind frequently; therefore, you continue to work on it.”
Additionally, he asserted that he has predominantly engaged in cricket on high-bounce surfaces, such as the one present at the Wankhede, and he is certain that the ascending deliveries do not pose any challenges for him. “At Wankhede, particularly when traveling from Mumbai, the bounce is virtually uniform and significantly greater than that of any other pitch.” Since the preponderance of my contests have been played here, I am prepared to face it. It’s just that whenever I attempt to strike certain shots, you inevitably miss, and while it may occasionally succeed, it does not always do so. And while the fact that it has failed for me the preponderance of the time may explain why you perceive it as a problem, I am certain there is no issue in my mind.
“In other words, rumors are ubiquitous, and you will focus on those rumors.” I am confident in myself, my abilities, and the amount of time I have spent playing. I have sufficient experience to perform specific deliveries. And I may get out repeatedly, but I honestly don’t mind, so long as I have confidence in myself and my colleagues continue to support and believe in me. Thus, I am motivated by that particular factor. “I am not concerned with anything else.”
After an undefeated 53 against Pakistan in Ahmedabad, Iyer scored his second half-century of the World Cup with an 82 against Sri Lanka. His other scores in seven matches have been as follows: 0 (against Australia), 25 not out (against Afghanistan), 19 against Bangladesh, 33 against New Zealand, and 4 against England, for a total of 216 runs.
Prior to the match in Mumbai, his inclusion in the XI was a matter of contention, with the prevailing belief being that his absence would have resulted in the Lanka match had Hardik Pandya been available. Nevertheless, Rohit Sharma endorsed his No. 4 batsman wholeheartedly: “Shreyas is a very strong-willed youngster (in his opinion), and as you observed today, he performed admirably; that is precisely what we anticipate from him. “He demonstrated that he is prepared to face the challenge that lies ahead.”
