Gautam Gambhir Recreates Shreyas Iyer’s Dismissal Highlighting India’s Short-Ball Struggles in Front of Batting Coach
Shreyas Iyer faced another setback during the first ODI against Australia, highlighting India’s ongoing struggles with short-ball dismissals. Iyer scored just 11 runs before being caught off a delivery from Josh Hazlewood. This incident reflects Iyer’s known vulnerability to short-pitched bowling, a weakness that has cost him repeatedly throughout his career.
Gautam Gambhir Highlights Iyer’s Weakness Against Short Balls
During the match at Optus Stadium in Perth, Hazlewood bowled a short delivery that Iyer misjudged. He gloved the ball toward wicketkeeper Josh Philippe, who completed the catch effortlessly. This marked the seventh time Hazlewood dismissed Iyer across all formats, further emphasizing the right-hander’s struggles.
After Iyer’s dismissal, the game was interrupted by rain, leading to a discussion between India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. Gambhir then reenacted Iyer’s dismissal, focusing on the batter’s shortcomings in handling short balls. However, he quickly shifted topics when he noticed the cameras capturing their exchange.
Match Overview and Key Events
- Date: October 19, 2025
- Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
- Teams: India vs. Australia
- Weather: Rain affected play, reducing it to 32 overs per side
- Australian Captain: Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl
In this match, India appointed Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain, supporting Shubman Gill in leading the team. Notably, Iyer, along with stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, returned to international cricket following India’s Champions Trophy victory in March 2025. Unfortunately for these seasoned players, their returns were marked by poor performances, with Sharma managing only 8 runs and Kohli being dismissed for a duck.
Debut Players
- India: Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Australia: Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Owen
The match not only showcased ongoing challenges with short balls for Indian batsmen but also introduced new talent to the ODI format. As the series progresses, the focus will likely remain on addressing these batting concerns, especially against formidable bowling attacks like Australia’s.
