‘Almost a highlight reel from very first ball’

Shreyas Iyer may have missed out on his century three runs in his first game as the Punjab Kings captain in the side’s 11-run victory over the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday. But he did gain many fans with the kind of knock he played. He hit five fours and nine sixes in his 42-ball innings.
Shreyas also earned plenty of admiration for his instruction to batting partner Shashank Singh to not worry about him getting his century ahead of the final over.
Speaking about Shreyas’ innings against Gujarat, New Zealand cricket legend Kane Williamson said on JioStar: “It was a knock of the highest standard. From the very first ball, it was almost a highlight reel—he played the ball exactly where it was meant to be hit. Anything outside off stump, he looked to access the offside, and he even struck sixes over cover against some of the best seamers in the world. Then, to take on Rashid Khan as well—that’s one of the toughest challenges in the game. As a leader, to step in at No. 3, set the tone, and take on the opposition’s biggest threats was remarkable. That innings was truly out of this world.
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Williamson also praised how Shreyas had evolved as a batter over the years.
“What stands out about Shreyas is how he continues to evolve his game. For a period, teams targeted him with short balls, but now, he’s adjusting brilliantly— getting deeper in his crease, de-weighting his front leg, and dominating the short-pitched deliveries. What’s most impressive is his ability to shift his weight forward again, making it difficult for bowlers who try the ‘one-two’ approach—going short, then full. He’s now able to access all areas of the ground, which makes him such a formidable batter.”