New Delhi: Captain of Kings XI Punjab Shreyas Iyer Opened up about how relentless criticism of his struggles with the short bowler became the driving force behind a dramatic shift in his batting approach for the IPL 2026 season.Speaking on JioStar, Iyer admitted that doubts over his ability to handle the short ball “triggered” a change in mentality and preparation. “People said I would never fix my short ball problem. That motivated me. I wanted to prove them wrong by performing well. So, I worked hard,” he said.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!The 31-year-old revealed that his short-pitch bowling approach has completely changed. “Earlier, I would just single or try to keep the ball down. But now my mentality has changed. If I see a short ball in my area, I hit it for a six,” Iyer explained, emphasizing the intention of being more aggressive and decisive.This shift has been evident in Punjab’s dominance this season, with Iyer’s improved control of the tempo playing a key role in the team’s unbeaten run. Recently, the team matched history by scoring 265 runs against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, which is the highest run-chasing rate in T20 history.Rigorous practice and mental resetIyer credits mentors like Pravin Amre and Abhishek Nayar for helping him perfect his craft, but he emphasized that hard work at the Nets was the biggest change.“In my batting practice, I try to bowl about 50 overs and face over 300 balls. This helps me understand what works for me,” he said, adding that facing real bowlers instead of just relying on pitches improved his clarity. “The more times I face bowlers, the clearer my movements become. I focus on creating a rhythm. “Get inspired by the greats AB de Villiers, Rohit Sharma and Virat KohliIyer emphasized the importance of balance and timing. “Just before the bowler delivers, I try to get into my position quickly. This creates a sense of flow,” he points out.“I have to prove them wrong”Beyond technique, Iyer also emphasizes the role of mental resilience in overcoming setbacks and criticism. “There were people around me who said you can’t do it. I didn’t like hearing that… and I decided I had to prove them wrong,” he said.Reflecting on his return from injury, he added: “Some people said I would never be the same again. I asked myself, why can’t I? The way you shape your mentality is important.”
