WATCH: Shreyas Iyer angrily reacts to question from journalist after India’s win vs Sri Lanka

Shreyas Iyer played a key role with the bat as India thrashed Sri Lanka by 302 runs in Mumbai on Thursday. The win not only helped India reach the top spot in the table but they also became the first team to reach the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup 2023. 

For years, Indian batting star Shreyas Iyer has been faced with questions about his weakness against the short ball. Things came to a head when the 28-year-old was asked the same question during a press conference after the game in Mumbai on Thursday.

Team India has already landed in Kolkata for a huge game that is set to take place on Sunday. South Africa and India will lock horns in the top-of-the-table clash as the ODI World Cup 2023 moves towards its business end.

Shreyas Iyer reacts angrily at press conference –

India amassed a huge 357-run score on the board after they were put into bat first. Shubman Gill (92) and Virat Kohli (88) gave the team the right momentum before falling in quick succession to Dilshan Madushanka.

Shreyas Iyer then took over as he scored a brisk 56-ball 82 runs to help India weather the storm. At the end of the game, Shreyas Iyer was asked the inevitable question on his problems against the short balls.

Shreyas giving clarification on his purported weakness against short balls..
#ShreyasIyer pic.twitter.com/5FQP5hhACk

— Shawstopper (@shawstopper_100) November 2, 2023

An irate Shreyas Iyer replied “What short problem, I don’t have any problems. It is you guys that have created a ‘Maahol’ outside that I have problems with rising ball. I have played a lot of pull shots and got boundaries also. It’s just that sometimes it does not go as expected. But in my head, I am confident of acing the short ball challenge.”

In the last game against England in Lucknow, Jos Buttler had worked over Shreyas Iyer with the short ball strategy. Chris Woakes then bowled one short ball which Iyer tried to pull but only succeeded in giving Mark Wood a simple catch for four runs.

During the game against Sri Lanka, the 28-year-old could be seen batting with ease against spin and seam. Shreyas Iyer hit 6 sixes in his knock which included a tournament-best 106-meter maximum that showed his class with the bat.