In the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, Team India are riding high on a wave of success. Their latest triumph against England in Lucknow on Sunday marked their sixth consecutive victory in the tournament, keeping their unbeaten streak alive.
The challenging track in Lucknow presented a formidable test for batters, where run-scoring proved to be a significant challenge. Captain Rohit Sharma, however, rose to the occasion with a stellar innings, contributing 87 runs. After India lost two early wickets with only 27 runs on the board, the stage was set for Shreyas Iyer to lead the charge and rescue the team from a precarious situation.
Shreyas Iyer’s short-ball struggles
Despite the opportunity, Shreyas Iyer‘s ongoing struggle with short-pitched deliveries came to the fore once again. In World Cup 2023, Iyer has been dismissed by pacers exploiting this weakness in three out of four instances. In the match against England, Iyer’s downfall came at the hands of a well-directed short ball from Chris Woakes. Positioned at the back of the crease, he attempted to play a pull shot, but the ball connected with the top of his bat, resulting in a comfortable catch for the mid-on fielder.
Gautam Gambhir’s insights
Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir offered insights into Iyer’s predicament with short balls, emphasizing the importance of his mindset. According to Gambhir, Iyer appears to be fixated on a predetermined approach when confronting short deliveries.
“See, practicing in the nets doesn’t mean he becomes compulsive. Somewhere I am seeing, he is becoming compulsive. He is actually waiting only for the short ball, rather than looking to go forward and then try and pull it. And pull it at a height that you can control. Today also you see, he wanted to pull everything, which you can’t against quality international bowlers,” Gambhir explained during an appearance on Star Sports.
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Gambhir recommended that Iyer should not be compelled to take on every short ball but, instead, focus on his footwork and avoid hanging too far back. The former cricketer suggested that Iyer should be well aware of the height at which he can comfortably execute controlled shots when confronted with short-pitched deliveries.
“You should be able to pull the balls that you can only control. I think he is hanging back too much because he is thinking everyone is going to bowl short and I am going to take them on. There is no ego in batting, you can’t be good at everything. Yes, you’re working on something but make sure it’s in your area, at a height which you can control. He can keep working on it, but he needs to be more smart. He should know what height to play the pull shot,” Gambhir added.