Shreyas Iyer Criticized for Struggling with Short Balls in India’s 1st ODI Defeat to Australia

Shreyas Iyer, India’s vice-captain, faced significant challenges during the first ODI against Australia, which took place at Optus Stadium in Perth. He scored just 11 runs off 24 balls before being caught behind by wicketkeeper Josh Philippe on a delivery from Josh Hazlewood.

Match Overview

The match encountered two rain interruptions, with the second halting play for several hours. Upon resumption, India found themselves in dire straits at 37 for 3 in 11.5 overs. Iyer and Axar Patel were trying to stabilize the innings.

Iyer’s Performance Under Pressure

After the rain delay, Iyer managed to score four runs against Hazlewood. However, his struggles with short balls were evident as he could only defend a well-angled back-of-a-length delivery. Shortly after, he attempted to play a glance but was caught out by an unexpected bounce, leading to his dismissal.

With Iyer’s exit, India’s top four batsmen had scored only 45 runs, putting immense pressure on the team early in the innings.

Fan Reactions

Following Iyer’s performance, social media reactions were swift and critical. Fans expressed their frustrations, suggesting Iyer’s difficulties against short balls have become a recurring theme. Some comments included:

• “Shreyas Iyer always struggles against 140+ short balls.”
• “It’s too easy to target Iyer with short deliveries on challenging wickets.”
• “How will he perform on South African wickets in the 2027 World Cup?”

Recent Achievements

Despite his struggles in the first ODI, Iyer has shown promise in previous matches. He was the leading run-scorer for India during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, amassing 243 runs at an average of 48.60. In the recent ODI World Cup 2023, he scored 530 runs in 11 innings, achieving two centuries and three fifties with an impressive average of 66.25.

Before facing Australia in the ongoing series, Iyer had recorded a total of 2,845 runs in 70 ODIs, averaging 48.22.

Looking Ahead

India will hope for a turnaround in their batting performance as they prepare for the second ODI against Australia at Adelaide Oval on October 23. Iyer will need to refine his approach to handle short balls more effectively to contribute significantly to the team’s success.