Shreyas Iyer is very talented, but needs to sort his problem against short balls: Scott Styris

Former New Zealand cricketer Scott Styris has said that he admires Shreyas Iyer’s leadership abilities and said that he is a future contender for Indian captaincy. The former cricketer also opined on Iyer’s short-ball problems. Iyer looked like the real deal in the home series against Sri Lanka earlier this year, where he kept piling up runs, but ever since then, it has been a tough road for him. The right-hander did not have the best of seasons with the bat for his new IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders.

There are few cricketers who can hit the spinners as far as Iyer hits, and he likes taking them on. However, his continuous dismissals against the short balls have become a cause of conern, and teams have been targeting him with the pacers. Iyer has not yet found a way out and will be hoping that the upcoming ODIs in West Indies might bring a change.

You’ll see a lot of teams attack Shreyas Iyer with the quick bowlers: Scott Styris

“What I really like about Shreyas Iyer is the leadership qualities that he possesses. I think he’s a real possibility to be a captain as well for India. For that reason, I would like to see him in and even give him more and more opportunities to be around this squad,” Styris told Sports18.

“What I don’t like, the negative if you like, is that there is no secret about Shreyas. He has real problems with the short ball. I think you’ll see a lot of teams attack him with the quick bowlers look to attack the body with the bouncer, go under the armpit if you like because I’m not sure he is found a way,” he added.

Styris compared Iyer with Suresh Raina, who used to face similar problem. He concluded that Iyer has the talent and needs to be given enough opportunities unless he is replaced.

“He’s almost a little bit like Suresh Raina in that regard where teams now know how to attack him. It’s now up to Shreyas Iyer to find a way to succeed against that style of bowling. If he can do that, then I think he’s one of the first names you write down in that Indian side. I really do like all the qualities about him, but until then, I think you’ve just got to give him opportunities, and if he can’t find success, then you need to find someone else who can, but he’s very talented,” he added.