Iyer namedropped AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as his inspirations.
PBKS is very close to qualifying for the playoffs, as they have 13 points from 7 games and 6 wins. And most of the credit has gone to Shreyas Iyer for leading the PBKS team from the front. Apart from his impressive captaincy, Shreyas Iyer has gained laurels for his batting as well.
Iyer had scored 604 runs in IPL 2025 and has continued in similar form this year, amassing 279 runs from six innings while striking at 186.
The Mumbai batter has frequently been criticized for his susceptibility to short-pitched deliveries, even though his quality has never been questioned. But for Iyer, the critique turned into a pivotal moment.
“People said I would never fix my short-ball problem. That triggered me. I wanted to prove them wrong by performing well. So, I worked hard on it. Earlier, I would just take a single or try to keep the ball down. But now my mindset has changed. If I see a short ball in my zone, I am going to hit it for a six,” Iyer said on JioHotstar.
Iyer credited his long-standing work with coach Pravin Amre and regular discussions with Abhishek Nayar for his continued growth.
“I work with Pravin Amre. I have been with him since I was young. I also talk to coaches like Abhishek Nayar. We share ideas. During my batting practice, I now try to play around 50 overs and face over 300 balls. That helps me understand what works for me. I don’t follow a fixed pattern. I give myself more time in the middle and face real bowlers, not just sidearm throws," he said.
He also described how he takes inspiration from elite international players and concentrates on rhythm and preparation at the crease.
“The more I face bowlers, the clearer my movement becomes. I focus on creating a rhythm. Just before the bowler delivers, I try to get into my position quickly. That creates a flow. You must have seen AB de Villiers do that. Even Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have that rhythm before playing their shots. I try to do the same," he added.
Given his tremendous form with the bat, calls for Iyer’s return to India’s T20I squad have grown louder, and some even see him as a potential captaincy option.
“I have people around me who say that in this situation, you can’t do it. It’s impossible. I don’t like hearing that. As a cricketer playing at the highest level, I just can’t accept it. Then, in my mind, I decide that I have to prove them wrong," Iyer said.
“The challenge becomes: ‘I was in this situation; how can I come back stronger?’ I push myself harder and try to return as soon as possible to prove them wrong. That thought keeps driving me, especially after injuries. When I had my back injury, some people said I would never be the same again. I asked myself, why can’t I be? The way you shape your mindset after an injury is important. You choose what to focus on and what to ignore," he added.
PBKS will face off against RR at home in New Chandigarh on April 28 in their next IPL 2026 game.