IPL 2025: How Shreyas Iyer used Jasprit Bumrah’s best weapon in opposition to him to information Punjab Kings to the ultimate | Ipl Information

On his second supply, Bumrah delivered a yorker that appeared each bit unplayable from the second it got here out of his hand and headed in direction of the center stump. These milliseconds are too quick for many batsmen to plot a technique to outlive.

Shreyas, although, had picked it early. He was in all probability anticipating it and regardless of having a excessive backlift, didn’t simply handle to maintain the pinpoint yorker out, but additionally had the audacity to open the face of the bat on the final second to information it previous the quick third-man fielder and to the boundary.

Shreyas Iyer vs Jasprit Bumrah (10 Years Problem) pic.twitter.com/SXP7zS8yZh

— Professor Sahab (@ProfesorSahab) June 2, 2025

Bumrah noticed it, turned again in a rush, and signalled the long-on fielder to come back in. This wasn’t a stroke of luck. Within the earlier over, standing at quick third-man, Bumrah had seen Shreyas convert two yorkers into boundaries by simply opening the face of the bat. However that boundary off his personal bowling was the decide of the lot, which AB de Villiers would name the shot of the event.

That shot did extra harm on the night time than Mumbai Indians would have imagined. On the subsequent 4 deliveries, Bumrah would try and bowl three extra yorkers, however not as soon as might he execute completely. And similar to that, Punjab ticked off 40 priceless runs off Bumrah’s 4 overs.

As soon as Bumrah couldn’t dislodge Shreyas, there was no stopping the Punjab captain from ending the chase with an over to spare.

“All of it involves his nice positioning and steadiness,” former India batsman Pravin Amre, who has been working with Shreyas as a private mentor, tells The Indian Specific. Batsmen managing to attain boundaries off yorker-length balls isn’t new. However it’s particular in Shreyas’s case, as he has a excessive backlift, which implies he has much less time to react than another batsmen.

“After we wished to alter a number of facets, the excessive backlift was non-negotiable. He’s a middle-order batsman, who largely bats after the Powerplay. So to be efficient in these overs, it’s essential have an excellent bat-swing. Having a excessive backlift helps get an excellent swing of the bat as nicely. In the event you have a look at this season, what stands out is how good his bat-swing is,” Amre says of the adjustment that Shreyas has made to his recreation over the previous 12 months.

With such a back-lift, Amre says, the shot that Shreyas employed in opposition to Boult, and particularly in opposition to Bumrah, turns into a secure guess. “As a middle-order batsman, he isn’t going to face as many yorkers as those who come later. However you may’t overlook it as nicely. And he’s a batsman who doesn’t play the scoops or paddle. So we stored it easy. When he brings down the bat vertically, he additionally has the choice to open the face and that’s what he did,” Amre says.

Main from the entrance

If Shreyas needed to typically play second-fiddle to the highest order final season at Kolkata Knight Riders, this yr with Punjab, he has needed to shoulder extra duty. In a batting line-up that doesn’t boast of big-name abroad gamers, he’s their enforcer who has proven them the best way to play. From the very first outing, Punjab head coach Ricky Ponting had revealed how he was capable of see a distinct model of Shreyas, the place his confidence has stood out.

It has mirrored in his batting proper by means of, as he now has over 600 runs for the primary time in an IPL season. Essentially the most placing distinction is the big leap in his strike price, which stands at 175.80, almost 42 greater than his IPL profession strike price of 133.40. Having managed solely 30 sixes in his final three seasons, this version he has hit 39, signalling a transparent change in intent.

“The excessive back-lift to go together with his bat-swing has made all of the distinction. If you end up batting at No 4, with fielders outdoors the ring, to clear boundaries, it’s essential have the bat-swing that generates distance. You’re predominantly going through spinners and when the pacers are working, they have a tendency to hit a tough size. In opposition to such deliveries, a excessive back-lift turns into very important,” Amre provides.

Within the final 12 months, one different space the place Shreyas has improved is in opposition to short-pitched deliveries. Even Ponting, whereas acknowledging he had no function to play in it, identified how Shreyas is moving into good positions to play the quick ball. Up to now, when pacers troubled him with quick balls, he confirmed a desire to maneuver in direction of the leg-side to create room or not stay static. However in latest months, Shreyas doesn’t transfer round, and has even managed to drag deliveries angled into his physique.

“Proper now, the steadiness of his physique is unbroken. He has realised the significance of it and the necessity to have a robust base. When you may have that, you may have a number of choices to deal with the quick ball. You’ll be able to hit on the off-side by enjoying an upper-cut (a shot Shreyas has regularly performed during the last 12 months) or deliver out the pull. When your physique is in steadiness, you may open these choices and full credit score to him to determine it out his personal manner,” Amre says.

Now, after guiding KKR to glory final season, Shreyas is on the cusp of repeating the feat with Punjab, nonetheless and not using a title for 18 seasons. Whether or not he manages to realize it or not, this season might nicely be the one which opens the nationwide T20 group door for Shreyas.