ICC World Cup 2023Sports

Ruthless Shreyas Iyer is a Revelation in the World Cup

10 months ago
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Shreyas Iyer

When pacers resort to slow balls and spinners spin the balls, the middle order deals with steel resolve. From the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, India was struggling to find a number 4th middle-order batsman who could bring strength and depth to the batting line-up. In 2019, when Kiwis ambushed the Men in Blue, the middle order collapsed like a pack of cards. But now Shreyas Iyer has reinforced the steel of nerves in the middle order with his resistance and counter attacking innings in this 2023 World Cup. He amassed 526 runs with two centuries, hitting 24 sixes at 113 strike rate is extraordinary.

The Role of Middle Order 

The role of the middle order is to bring stability in critical situations and perform under challenging conditions. However, even if the top order produces a great start, the middle order has to maintain the momentum in an exceptional way. We should not judge the middle-order batsman by their sheer numbers in cricket. Sometimes, the 30s and 40s are deemed as critical knocks to take the team forward.

Revelation of Shreyas IyerĀ 

Shreyas Iyer came back after a slip disc injury propelled multiple back spasms, which even reached his toe’s nerve. In this World Cup, Shreyas played some outstanding innings to cherish forever. Most of the knocks Shreyas played were under pressure. He has the temperament to stay calm and composed in big matches to separate him from the rest. His unbeaten 128 against the Netherlands aided India in dominating the game unprecedentedly. 

Also Read: Indiaā€™s Impressive World Cup Journey: From Underdog In 1983 To Complete Dominance In 2023

Yuvraj Singh played the same kind of match winning knocks in 2011 world cup. Fans are hopeful that Shreyas would perform in the finals too and get to finalise his spot on the playing XI for a long time.

Iyer became the first middle-order batsman in cricket history to score 500-plus runs, which explicates the magnanimity of Iyer’s contribution to India’s winning cause. Some of the recors he achieved during this tournament are;

  • 67 balls century is the fastest in a knockout game at the World Cup
  • Consecutive centuries in the World equalling Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid
  • Shreyas Iyer crossed 500 runs in his maiden ODI World Cup campaign
  • Iyer is the first middle-order batter to score 500+ runs in an ODI World Cup 2023

Performing under Pressure 

He has the ability to shift the gears rapidly with a calculative risk, countering the opposition’s spin and pace bowlers equally well. Whenever Shreyas played flick, pull, square cut, late cut or even hook, it looked like a billion bucks, easing the pressure. His scores of 82 and 87 showcase the skill to perform in difficult ambience. While constructing innings in the middle order, a couple of times, he lost his wicket to a short ball when he attempted to carry a pull shot. He is vulnerable to short-pitch deliveries but diligently works to solve them.

After that, he altered his technique. Mohammed Kaif observed that he changed his backlift to behind his body to easily play pull shot. And it gives him more control, rather than missing a shot. Today, there is a change in the fulcrum of India’s middle-order batting because of Shreyas’s stamping innings. His phenomenal stats are a testament of his ability to be a match winner.

  • 2022 – 15 inns, 724 runs, 55.7 average
  • 2023* – 17 inns, 790 runs, 56.4 average
  • World Cup – 10 inns, 526 runs, 75.14 average
  • At No.4 – 32 inns, 1393 runs, 53.6 average
  • Career – 52 inns, 2327 runs, 50.6 average

Appreciation from Stalwarts

Rahul Dravid asserted that “Shreyas is the backbone of our middle order and we all know how tough it’s been for us to find a good number four batter for the last 10 years.”

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer and said that the Indian batter wasn’t concerned about himself or his place in the side. Gautam Gambhir via Star Sports said: “Shreyas Iyer has been the biggest game-changer in this World Cup so far.”

Sanjay Manjrekar said, “Shreyas was the ideal man for India to have at that position and he is not going to get under pressure because there have been four or five dot balls, and then you play a high-risk big shot to release the pressure.” Anil Kumble heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer, saying that the Indian batter is ‘mentally strong’ and can ‘soak pressure.

In this World Cup, Shreyas Iyer daringly played some powerful strokes, good placements, shot selections and particularly hitting the balls out of the rope, which most of the time changed the course of the game. Shreya’s impressive performance was instrumental in India’s journey to the World Cup finals.  

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