CWC 2023: Shreyas Iyer responds to short-ball weakness criticism

Criticisms about batsman Shreyas Iyer’s difficulty in tackling the short ball had resurfaced after his dismissal to Chris Woakes in Lucknow on 29th October. He however made a strong statement by scoring a quickfire 56-ball 82 against Sri Lanka in the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on November 2nd that propelled India’s score to beyond 350. 

Upon being asked how he would deal with his short-ball problems in the game against South Africa in the post-match press conference, Shreyas Iyer asked the reporter what he meant by problem. “Have you seen how many pull shots I have scored? Especially which has gone for four? If you are trying to hit a ball, you are bound to get out anyway, irrespective it’s a short ball, it’s overpitched. If I get bowled two or three times, you all will say, he can’t play an inswinging ball, he can’t play a cut if the ball is seaming. In Wankhede the ball bounces more than any other pitches. I have played the majority of my games here. I know how to tackle it. I try to hit shots and the majority of the times it hasn't worked for me and maybe that is why you think it is a problem but in my mind I’m clear that it is not a problem (sic),” he stated.