Shreyas Iyer brushes aside short-ball weakness allegations
India stretched their winning streak to seven in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, as they defeated Sri Lanka in Mumbai, on Thursday, November 2. Notably, the hosts trumped the 2011 World Cup runner-ups by a massive 302-run margin. This was, in fact, the second-biggest winning margin in terms of runs in the history of the marquee event.
Shreyas Iyer’s form was a bit of a concern coming into the clash against the ‘Lankan Lions’ as he had managed to score just one half-century in the first six matches. However, the hometown hero showed his class with a bludgeoning knock of 82 off 56 deliveries, hitting three fours and six sixes, respectively. There were many questions surrounding Iyer’s ability to play the short ball but the 28-year-old. However, he said after the match that playing the short ball wasn’t a problem for him.
“When you say it’s a problem for me, what do you mean? Have you seen how many pull shots I’ve scored, specially which has gone for four?” Iyer said at the post-match press conference.
“You know if you try to hit a ball, you’re bound to get out anyway whether it’s a short ball or overpitched. If I get bowled two or three times, you all would say he can’t play an inswinging ball, he can’t play if the ball is seaming. You guys have created that mahol [feeling] outside that he can’t play a short ball, and I feel that people are picking that up every now and then and it plays on your mind regularly and you keep working on that,” the Mumbai-based batter further added.
Sri Lanka succumb to hand hosts semi-final berth
Earlier in the day, India put on a mammoth total of 357 on the board after Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first in the ODI World Cup 2023 encounter. Apart from Shreyas, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill also scored half-centuries. Dilshan Madushanka picked up a five-for but conceded 80 runs in the 10 overs he bowled.
In reply, Sri Lanka got off to a disastrous start with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj picking up wickets off their respective first deliveries. The latter had been under the pump with some indifferent performances in the previous game. However, against Sri Lanka, Siraj made the new ball tal and finished with figures of 3/16 in seven overs.
However, Mohammed Shami was the wrecker-in-chief as he picked up his second five-wicket haul in the tournament. The right-arm pacer was subsequently awarded Player of the Match for his resounding performance.
