Last Updated: April 28, 2026 04:10 PM
Punjab Kings captain opened up about his struggles facing criticism recently. His journey from weakness to strength inspires countless young cricketers everywhere. Let’s explore how he turned negativity into his biggest weapon.
How Short-Ball Taunts Used to Trigger Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer appeared on JioHotstar’s ‘Believe’ show, candidly sharing his emotional journey. Critics constantly mocked his inability to handle rising deliveries throughout his career. Those Short-Ball Taunts used to trigger him mentally and affect performances badly.
People claimed he’d “never be the same again” after his back injury. That negativity could’ve permanently destroyed any player’s confidence without the right mindset. But Shreyas Iyer chose a different path instead of giving up.
“When I had my back injury, some people said I would never be the same again. I asked myself, ‘Why can’t I be?’ The way you shape your mindset after an injury is important. You choose what to focus on and what to ignore,” Iyer said.
He started focusing only on things within his control every single day. Ignoring outside noise became his superpower gradually over time through practice. The back injury actually taught him mental strength he never knew existed.
Transforming Weakness Into Strength Through Practice
Earlier, Shreyas Iyer would only take singles against short balls defensively. He kept the ball down, never attacking those deliveries at all. Now he aggressively targets short balls in his hitting zone confidently.
His practice sessions involve facing over 300 balls against real bowlers. Not sidearm throws or machines – actual quality bowlers simulating match conditions. These 50-over practice marathons build understanding and rhythm naturally over months.
“People said I would never fix my short-ball problem. That triggered me. I wanted to prove them wrong by performing well, so I worked hard on it. Earlier, I would just take a single or try to keep the ball down, but now my mindset has changed.
“If I see a short ball in my zone, I am going to hit it for a six. I work with Pravin Amre; I have been with him since I was young. I also talk to coaches like Abhishek Nayar. We share ideas,” he said.
Coaches Pravin Amre and Abhishek Nayar helped refine his technique continuously throughout. Amre has worked with him since his youth cricket days loyally. Their combined ideas transformed his approach to Short-Ball Taunts completely.
The Jasprit Bumrah Six That Proved Everything
One moment proved that Shreyas Iyer conquered his short-ball demons spectacularly this season. Jasprit Bumrah bowled a rising short ball with serious pace behind. Shreyas swiveled perfectly and launched it out of the stadium easily.
Those six showcased years of hard work paying off beautifully finally. He draws inspiration from AB de Villiers, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli constantly. Their pre-shot rhythm and movement clarity influence his batting style significantly.
Shreyas avoids fixed patterns, prioritizing time in the middle instead of always. Quick positioning just before delivery creates a natural flow in his batting. Doubters said he couldn’t handle the pace – he proved them wrong.
