Shreyas Iyer said criticism over his short-ball weakness motivated him to improve his game. He now adopts a more aggressive approach, credits coaches like Pravin Amre and Abhishek Nayar, and focuses on long practice sessions. His improved form has powered Punjab Kings’ strong IPL 2026 run, including a record T20 chase.

New Delhi: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has revealed how criticism about his perceived weakness against short balls became a defining source of motivation, shaping both his mindset and method as a batter during IPL 2026.

Opening up on the scrutiny he has faced, Iyer admitted that doubts about his ability to handle the short ball only pushed him to work harder and evolve his game.

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"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. 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," Iyer told JioStar.