Shreyas Iyer, the Indian middle-order batter, has often faced criticism for his perceived struggles against short-pitched deliveries. However, Iyer isn’t a fan of unsolicited advice, especially from those who have never faced the intensity of express pace bowling.
“It’s irritating, especially when it comes from people, who haven’t faced 150 km per hour delivery, advising you to play in a particular way,” Iyer told The Indian Express. “But I would say it is their opinion. They have all the right to talk, but they can talk between themselves, not to the player directly.”
While acknowledging everyone’s right to have an opinion, Iyer expressed frustration about receiving direct advice from individuals who lack first-hand experience.
Stellar Performance in 2023 ODI World Cup
Despite criticism, Iyer delivered a remarkable performance during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Scoring 530 runs in 11 innings at an impressive average of 66.25, he also recorded two centuries in the tournament.
However, the success wasn’t enough to shield him from controversy. Iyer reportedly irked the BCCI by skipping a domestic match for Mumbai, which led to his exclusion from the annual contract list.
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Adopting Baseball Techniques to Enhance Power Hitting
Iyer has been exploring unconventional methods to improve his batting skills. He revealed that watching baseball videos has been instrumental in refining his power-hitting abilities.
“Yes, I have seen a lot of videos on YouTube on how you basically get the shoulder and hip separation. That has helped me a lot in terms of power hitting. It plays a vital role, especially in T20s where you switch your gears and try to accelerate at any given point,” he shared.
A Record-Breaking IPL Auction
The Punjab Kings made Iyer the second-most expensive player in IPL history, signing him for a whopping ₹26.75 crore during the mega auction last year. Iyer admitted he expected a significant bid but was surprised by the intense competition among teams.
“During the auction, we were in Hyderabad, watching it from our rooms, and I was expecting a good amount. But I never thought that I would exceed a point, and there would be so much competition between two teams over me. Overall, I was thrilled. After a certain point, I shut the door, went into the washroom, and I was like, I don’t want to listen to what’s happening,” he said.