‘When your weakness comes to the fore, all teams will exploit it’ – Former cricketer criticises Shreyas Iyer for consistent low scores in ODI World Cup 2023

Former Pakistani cricketers Misbah Ul Haq and Wasim Akram recently got candid on A sports channel and discussed Shreyas Iyer’s performance for India and the ODI World Cup 2023. Notably, India has played six games in the World Cup and the host nation has won all six games.

However, India’s middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has consistently scored low runs and has not given the team much support in the middle order. In the six games, Shreyas Iyer has scored 0, 25*, 53*, 19, 33, and 4 respectively, and has been mostly dismissed for short balls.

Misbah believes Shreyas Iyer has exposed his weakness and the opponents are easily taking advantage of it to dismiss him in the ODI World Cup 2023. Wasim Akram also highlighted that if Shreyas Iyer is not performing well then Ishan Kishan should get a chance for India. 

Misbah Ul Haq and Wasim Akram on Shreyas Iyer’s performance for India 

“Hardik Pandya has to return too after being fit. From Day 1, I feel that KL Rahul at No. 5 is too late. He is a class player and should bat at No. 4. Once Hardik is back, Suryakumar Yadav can bat 6 and Jadeja 7. Then his (Iyer’s) selection would become difficult. He (Iyer) has scored runs; he is coming off a hundred against Australia, is rated high. But overall, his average against fast bowling is around 19-20 and when it comes to short balls, he is just not able to find it. When your weakness comes to the fore, all teams will exploit it,” said Misbah Ul Haq while talking to A Sports.  

“He is expecting the short ball and many times, even against short-of-length balls which aren’t ideal for pulling, like the one against England, he goes for the shot. So, you are overthinking about the short ball and you are in trouble. See his front foot. After the initial movement, it goes nowhere. And he is in no position to play the short ball. And he doesn’t even try to avoid the short ball,” he said. 

Wasim Akram further added to Misbah’s statement on Shreyas Iyer and said, “Yeah, he has to perform because Ishan Kishan is sitting out and he is a left-hander. Remember the first game he played in the Asia Cup, he and Hardik Pandya struck a partnership. So he can bat in the middle order.”