Shreyas Iyer.. this name that once seemed to be just an ODI specialist, has now become a pillar of consistency in the T20 format. Shreyas is not only leading the team to victory as the captain of Punjab Kings in the IPL 2026 season, but also discovering a new side of himself as a finisher. However, it is interesting to note that behind this miraculous transformation, there were insults and criticisms that showered Iyer. Iyer made it clear that his aim is to prove himself by turning criticism against him as fuel.
Iyer, who participated in Jio Star’s ‘Believe’ program, shared his thoughts. He reacted strongly to the criticism that he was weak especially in facing short balls. “It’s not because of you, I can’t stand it at all when someone says you can’t do well in this situation. As a cricketer playing at the highest level, I can’t accept that at all. So I’m determined to prove my critics wrong,” Iyer said. Such was the graft that the world’s best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, turned a bouncer into a stunning six and silenced his critics.
Even when he missed the team due to a back injury, some made negative comments about Iyer. “Iyer can’t play like before after the injury” motivated him even more. He says that what matters is how we think after an injury, and that he has clarity about what to prioritize and what to ignore. He said that he took advice from coaches like Praveen Amre and Abhishek Nair and worked hard to solve the short ball problem.
Explaining about his practice sessions.. “Earlier I used to try to take a single or play defense if a short ball comes. But now my mindset has changed. If a short ball comes in my zone I aim to hit a six. I face more than 300 balls in practice. I tend to face actual bowlers rather than side arm throws. Bowler “I have learned to get into the right position (Rhythm) before leaving the ball. I have also adopted that rhythm seen in AB de Villiers, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli,” Iyer revealed the secret behind his consistency. The Punjab Kings skipper made it clear that the criticism made him stronger and the transplant was a reason for his current form.