On the face of it, Shreyas Iyer does appear to be cocky and street-smart displaying an exaggerated swagger which is not uncommon among modern-day cricketers.
Having gone through a tough phase before the World Cup, he knows how to wriggle out of difficult situations and his attitude is a reflection of his conviction and self-belief.
He vehemently countered a journalist at the media conference when poked about
his trouble against short balls following a match-winning 82 against Sri Lanka in
Mumbai.
“When you say it’s a problem for me, what do you mean?” he began in an authoritative tone. Aware of facing such questions after being dismissed for 4 against England, he did come prepared.
Shreyas doesn’t duck or sway from the line of a bouncer. He will rather get into the front foot and execute the pull from that position resulting in the ball ballooning up near the infield.
Two days before the match against Sri Lanka, head coach Rahul Dravid and the team’s left-arm throw-down specialist worked for close to an hour with him on tackling the short deliveries. The head coach, engaging in a myriad of gestures, was even seen having an animated chat with him at the end of the session.
On a wicket which had a fair bit of bounce and carry, Shreyas wasn’t tested much by their premier pacers Dilshan Madushanka and Dushmantha Chameera.
He has always excelled against the spinners and the way he negated the challenge posed by South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi at the Eden Gardens on Sunday was exemplary. His 77 off 87 balls was a testament to his skill and talent.
Even Virat Kohli did struggle against Maharaj’s guile but it was Shreyas who took much of the strike while restricting his attacking impulses. It was mainly because of Shreyas that India managed to maintain a decent run-rate during those stifling middle overs.
On a slow and low wicket, there wasn’t much on offer for the pacers and neither Kagiso Rabada nor Lungi Ngidi tested him with short-pitched deliveries. Marco Jansen was just too erratic on the day.
Shreyas’ challenge will be if he faces a potent attack on a Wankhede wicket with pacers who can test him to the hilt.
