On the eve of the third ODI against Australia, India batsman Shreyas Iyer said he is overwhelmed that the opposition bowlers are devising a short ball strategy against him.
Sharing his plan to combat the short-pitched stuff, India’s No. 4 batsman added that he is ready to adopt a counter-offensive approach.
Josh Hazlewood got Iyer into a tangle with a well-directed bouncer in the series opener while the right-hander showed a lot more composure in the second ODI where he scored 38 off 36 balls.
“I am really happy that they are coming up with a plan (against me),” Iyer said in the pre-match press conference.
“I feel overwhelmed and take it as a challenge. But I thrive under pressure and it motivates me to go against them. I feel it (a short leg and leg gully) helps to take advantage and score more runs and make best use of it,” he added.
For Shreyas Iyer, playing short ball is all about mind-set with the adjustment while batting at the nets.
“It’s all about mind-set that you need to adjust. How you need to place yourself on the wicket. Rather than bending down too much (during stance), you stand upright. It easier to pick up the short one. I have set a pattern for myself. Every time I play, I give myself a little bit of time and get set. If they come up with that field (for short ball), I get aggressive as well. Because that kind of field is easy to manipulate,” Iyer said.
He acknowledged that confusion about the shot selection brought about his downfall against Hazlewood in the first game.
“I knew that short ball was going to come. I got in two frame of minds, thinking of pulling and at the same time I had this upper cut shot. I got stuck in between two thoughts and couldn’t play the shot.”
In the second game, Iyer watched the ball closely and reacted accordingly.
“It was easy to do that rather than thinking about what the bowler is going to do. I like to give myself some time at the beginning. In that way, if you are set, you can predict what the bowler is trying to bowl,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
