Exclusive: Shreyas Iyer’s Coach on His Transformation into India’s Middle-Order Anchor

Shreyas Iyer has grown into a lethal batter in the No. 4 spot for India in ODIs. Always known for his attacking game, the right-hander found a method to his madness. A slight tweak in stance and backlift has allowed him to score freely and tackle the short balls better.

Earlier, the bowlers tormented Iyer with the short ball, and now he pulls them with disdain. He has been meeting the deliveries while going deep inside the crease. The bat dangles out, similar to Steve Smith's stance, before striking the ball.

Former India batsman Pravin Amre, Iyer's coach for almost two decades, advised on having an open stance apart from corrections in the backlift, which transformed his game. 

"The whole purpose was to make him score more runs. We know the challenges of international cricket, and there is always room for improvement. He wanted to work harder and trusted me with the process. Ultimately, it is his hard work because we may advise and suggest corrections, but he has to execute it. He was able to do that, especially in the series against England [78 off 64 balls, and 59 off 36]," Amre told Sportsboom.com after Iyer's 56 off 67 for a winning cause against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy fixture in Dubai.

Iyer scored 530 runs in the ODI World Cup 2023 and led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third Indian Premier League title in 2024. However, it was not all rosy. He was briefly out of the BCCI central contracts, and recurrent back issues continued to sideline him from major tournaments.

Renewed temperament in Iyer 2.0

The 30-year-old fought back into the ODI squad with renewed temperament this February after only three ODIs in 2024. 

"Against Pakistan on Sunday, he was 16 off 32 at one stage before scoring 56 off 67. So, he is reading the game well. Previously, he only wanted to dominate. Respecting the game is also crucial. His job in the middle order is to build partnerships, especially when batting in the middle overs, and have the last five overs to score 50 runs extra."

"The primary role is to steady the ship in the middle so the team gets into a better position to win the match. The middle order is a tough spot to bat," pointed Amre, who has also trained batters such as Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, and Robin Uthappa.

The short ball medicine

Iyer has been unlucky to get dismissed plenty of times against the short ball, but he never believed it to be a weakness. He thought he could dominate and get over the line. The hard-hitter is finally acing the pull shots against the short deliveries. 

"The most important thing is that he is a tough character. He always believed that he could handle the short ball well. Whenever you get dismissed, people start talking about you. He said he could handle it. It is all because of his self-belief and self-confidence. He worked hard on the corrections suggested."

"He always had the ability. Scoring 500+ in the ODI World Cup gave him a lot of confidence. That's a big stage. World Cup is a different pressure game, and he could score in that tournament; it tells a lot about the player."

Iyer's ODI average reads 50.60 in five ODIs in 2025. Against New Zealand, whom India will face next in the ICC Champions Trophy on March 2, he averages 69.14 with two centuries and three fifties. 

"He can strike well against spinners, and now, he is handling the fast bowlers well. He has become an asset for Team India. If someone can deliver in the toughest position, like the middle order, it shows his adaptability. He has been consistent and is ready to bat in any situation. It could be a 10/2 or 200/2. He is a smart cricketer and knows these things," reasoned Amre.

Iyer scored a 70-ball 105 in his last outing against the Black Caps. He wouldn't mind adding another ton to his cap.