Shreyas Iyer, the captain of Punjab Kings and a key player for the Indian middle order, has been making strides in his game, and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson thinks he’s adapting really well to the challenges he faces, especially when dealing with short balls. Iyer kicked off his captaincy with an impressive knock of 97 not out, smashing nine sixes and five fours in just 42 balls in a match against the Gujarat Titans.
Williamson, who previously played for the Titans, had some nice things to say about Iyer’s growth as a player. He remarked, What stands out about Shreyas is how he keeps changing his game. There was a time when bowlers targeted him with short balls, but now he’s really stepping up. He’s making smart adjustments, like getting deeper into his stance and shifting his weight, which helps him handle those tricky short deliveries, making it harder for bowlers who try to mess with his rhythm by alternating between short and full balls.
Iyer’s performance showed that he can hit all around the ground. Williamson described Iyer’s innings as top-notch, saying, “From the first ball, it was like watching a highlight reel. He really knew how to place the ball where he wanted. He praised Iyer’s ability to hit sixes over cover, even against some of the cream of the crop in bowling. Williamson also pointed out how tough it is to face a bowler like Rashid Khan and said that stepping into bat at No. 3 and handling strong bowlers is no small feat. He called that innings truly outstanding.
On top of praising Iyer, Williamson also gave a shout-out to Shashank Singh, who played a fiery innings, scoring 44 not out off just 16 balls, which really helped secure the win for PBKS. Williamson noted that Shashank had an impressive breakout season last year, saying, “He stays calm at the crease and has a smooth technique. He doesn’t overdo things but has a bunch of ways to score runs.”
He added how Shashank has the knack for adjusting to short balls well, whether it’s pulling them or getting creative with ramps over the keeper. What really stands out is how he comes to bat during crucial overs without much time to settle in, yet he still manages to take on bowlers confidently. Williamson highlighted a moment when Shashank hit a shot over square that was a risky play against someone of Rashid Khan’s talent. He said that it just goes to show how skilled Shashank is as a player.
