After getting among runs, Shreyas Iyer shows anger at questions about his prowess against the short ball | Cricket-world-cup News

Shreyas Iyer has had enough of people questioning his prowess against the short ball. So on the day he got back among the runs on his home ground and played some good pull shots, he didn’t take too kindly to questions on how he will deal with the South African pacemen in the next World Cup game.
‘How much are you prepared for the next match against South Africa because we know how good they are with the short balls,’ he was asked.
Iyer was quick to retort: “When you say it is a problem for me, what do you mean?”
He was asked again, not a problem exactly but it has troubled you?
“Troubled me? Have you seen how many pull shots I’ve played? Ye sab mahaul aap logo ne banaya hua hai (This perception has been created you). In my mind, I have no problem against the short ball. If you’re trying to hit a ball, you’re bound to get out anyway, irrespective of whether it’s a short ball or an overpitched one. If I get bowled two or three times, you all would say that, ‘OK, he can’t play an in-swinging ball. He can’t play a cut if a ball is seaming’.”
Two days before the Sri Lanka game, Iyer was seen practising for more than hours in the nets, focusing largely on short-pitched stuff. This was after the Lucknow match against England, where he tried to pull a short-pitched delivery Chris Woakes but only managed a top edge.
In Dharamsala against New Zealand, he was well set on 33 when Trent Boult bowled one short of length and Iyer was caught on the square-leg fence.
India’s Shreyas Iyer plays a shot during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match. (PTI)
However, Sri Lanka didn’t test his game against the short ball much and it gave Iyer the liberty to open up his arms. It seemed to be a chance missed the islanders because Iyer was so concerned about this that he shadow-practised his responses while standing at the non-striker’s end.
With Iyer getting some runs, another box seemed to be ticked India, who sealed their semifinal spot on Thursday. His innings had six huge sixes and three fours.
Not short of confidence
Was there extra determination to come good in Mumbai, he was asked.
“I have faith in myself, in my skills, and how much I’ve played. I’m experienced enough to play certain deliveries. And I may get out again and again, but I don’t mind, to be honest, as long as I have faith in myself and my teammates believe in me and support me. So that is a motivating factor for me. I don’t pay attention to anything else,” the middle-order batsman said.
Iyer had a difficult four months, especially after he underwent a back surgery. He shared his tough experiences on the road back. Fielding was getting difficult and he wasn’t able to move like before. He worked hard with trainers and physios, but watching teammates play on TV was getting tougher but Iyer had to follow the process.
Against Sri Lanka, Iyer batted as if he wanted to make a statement with the bat. “I was getting tremendous starts in the first few games but wasn’t able to capitalise. But today, I just told myself that if the ball is in my area, I’m just going to take the bull the horns. And yeah, fortunately, it worked for me and I hope it keeps on working for me in the future as well,” he said.Most Read
1
Aishwarya Rai cuts birthday cake at an event with daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, refuses to eat as she is observing Karva Chauth. Watch video

2
India vs Sri Lanka Highlights, World Cup 2023: Shami strikes another fifer as IND humiliate SL 302 runs

See More

However, it was the Indian pace trio who hogged the limelight, with the Lankans left dancing to their tunes.
“We have a fast bowling unit, if I couldn’t (get wickets) then Shami bhai will or Jassi (Bumrah) bhai will. We keep on talking to each other on what line we can bowl on this pitch. We keep on passing messages to each other,” Mohammed Siraj said.
On being called the best Indian pace attack trio ever, he replied, “Jab sab achha hota hai tab sab bolte hai ke combination acha hai and when things don’t work, the same people will say, to drop this one or to play this one. This is part and parcel of the game.”