Mumbai
Shreyas Iyer has revealed that repeated criticism over his struggles against short-pitched bowling became the biggest motivation behind his transformation into one of the most consistent batters in T20 cricket.
The Punjab Kings captain, who has enjoyed a sensational IPL 2026 campaign, admitted that constant taunts about his supposed weakness against bouncers “triggered” him and pushed him to work harder on his game.
Iyer said he always felt driven to prove doubters wrong whenever people questioned his abilities.
“I have people around me who say that in this situation, you can’t do it. I don’t like hearing that. Then in my mind, I decide that I have to prove them wrong,” Iyer said.
The stylish middle-order batter has been in outstanding form this season, scoring heavily at an average of 70 and an impressive strike rate of 186, helping Punjab Kings climb to the top of the IPL 2026 points table.
Iyer, once criticised heavily for his discomfort against short deliveries, said the comments remained in his mind for a long time and eventually became fuel for improvement.
“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,” he explained.
The change in mindset has been visible in his batting this season. Instead of merely surviving short-pitched bowling, Iyer has attacked aggressively, including smashing a memorable six off Jasprit Bumrah during Punjab Kings’ clash against Mumbai Indians.
The 31-year-old also reflected on overcoming a serious back injury that had raised doubts about his future. He said maintaining a positive mindset after setbacks played a crucial role in his comeback.
Iyer credited long-time coach Pravin Amre and mentor Abhishek Nayar for helping him refine his technique and approach.
He revealed that his preparation now includes facing more than 300 deliveries during lengthy practice sessions to build rhythm and confidence against real bowlers rather than relying solely on sidearm practice.
Drawing inspiration from batting greats like AB de Villiers, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Iyer said creating rhythm before each delivery has become central to his success and consistency in the shortest format.