Akash Chopra commended Shreyas Iyer, the new captain of the Punjab Kings (PBKS), for his great innings against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) thanks to his clean hitting and switch of batting styles. After noticing a minor shift in Iyer’s stance, the former Indian batsman declared him to be the best Indian batter in the middle overs against the spinners.
Chopra thought that Iyer had become more adept at handling short balls, which was noteworthy. In reference to Iyer’s 97*(42) against GT, the well-known former Indian cricket player remarked. Against the spinners, Iyer performed well, according to the specialist. He claimed that unlike other batters, Iyer did not need to stride out to generate momentum in order to hit the ball over the stands.
According to Chopra, bowlers have trouble anticipating Iyer’s movements. Shreyas has modified his batting slightly to fit the shorter forms, according to Akash. Chopra noticed that Shreyas’ rear leg was no longer parallel to the crease that was popping as it used to be. The right-handed batter has greater access to regions that he didn’t have before, he said.
“Shreyas has positioned his back leg such that it is somewhat open, between point and cover, rather than parallel to the popping crease, which is what happens when batting traditionally occurs. Chopra told JioStar’s Match Center Live that his bat, which used to land nearly over the off-stump, is now positioned just outside, giving him access to locations he was previously unable to reach.
With his well-balanced posture, Shreyas Iyer maintains his mobility and control: Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra also said that Iyer’s bat placement had increased his shooting range. Since the PBKS captain was no longer concerned about short balls, he was able to reduce risks and increase control, which improved his ability to make shots.
Additionally, this modification has enhanced his capacity to manage short balls. A batter runs the danger of mistiming shots if they rest their entire weight on their rear leg and concentrate just on the short ball. Nonetheless, Shreyas maintains his mobility and control thanks to his balanced stance, which really improves his ability to make shots,” Chopra said.
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