- By Namrata Vijay
- Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:12 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND vs AUS 2nd ODI: India's star batter Shreyas Iyer revealed how using an upright batting position helped him bounce back to form and perform well in conditions both at home and away. In the post-match conference after the second ODI, Iyer revealed that he had been working on his batting stance since last year and how he had gone back to using an upright stance like he did in his initial years.
"The technique I've got lately is not something that I've changed suddenly. Since last year, I wanted to have an upright stance, especially on wickets where the bounce is a little more than expected. "I worked with my coach on it, and it has been suiting me quite well. I grew up playing with that kind of stance, so I just thought of going back to my old method and seeing how it works out," he told reporters in the post-match press conference.
He also talked about how he was able to change his technique as per the condition, which is quite important. "Even in Mumbai, when we play on red-soil wickets with extra bounce, an upright stance helps. You have to keep chopping and changing because every surface is different. I've changed my stance several times now, and I feel I can adapt anywhere at the moment," he added.
Iyer, who stitched a 118-run partnership with Rohit Sharma, revealed that they aimed to build momentum on a tricky pitch against a brilliant bowling attack.
"Hazlewood was bowling brilliantly. The ball was seaming in and out, and it wasn't an easy wicket to bat on at the start. We wanted to have an attacking approach, but also rotate strikes as much as possible. It was about ensuring we reached a total from where we could put pressure on the bowlers later," he added.
Speaking of the game, Iyer admitted that it had become easier to bat in the second innings and also heaped praises on the host for the way they chased the target.
"I was fielding on the far end, so I couldn't exactly tell when the wicket changed. But credit where it's due - they batted superbly. They rotated strike well, and Cooper (Connolly), especially being a youngster, showed a lot of maturity to finish off the game," he added.
He also talked about how challenging it is to switch formats and balance both domestic and international cricket, and to this, Iyer replied that it was all about maintaining rhythm and intensity.
"I don't see much of a challenge. It's about adapting to the conditions and being match-prepared. Domestic cricket gives you that confidence, and recently, the India A series also gave me a good boost before coming here," he added.
He revealed that the whole side is disappointed by losing this series and also lauded the Australian bowlers for taking advantage of the home conditions brilliantly.
"It definitely hurts. The first game wasn't convincing because the rain played an important role, and conditions favored them. But this match was a do-or-die one for us, and we wanted to put our best foot forward. Losing early wickets made it difficult, and the Australian bowlers took full advantage," he added.
Talking about his journey post the ODI series against England this year, Iyer revealed that performing brilliantly in the domestic tournament helped him become confident to play well in international cricket.
"I came from a domestic season where my average was around 300. When you have runs behind you, you walk into international cricket with confidence. Some things are in your control, some are not. My focus is to perform every time I step on the ground," he added.
He also revealed that he has become more aware of his workload management.
"When I field for long hours in red-ball cricket, I've realized my intensity tends to drop. At the international level, that can make a difference. In ODIs, you have rest days and time to recover, so it's easier to manage. Based on that, I've planned my approach," he concluded.