Photo via The Times of India

‘Changed Shreyas’ grip & backlift’: How Abhishek Nayar helped India T20I captain bounce back

India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, who had struggled to regain his signature form after a run of scores below 30 in his last ten matches, returned to his explosive best with a match-winning 102 not out off 43 balls against the West Indies. The knock, featuring six sixes and ten fours, helped India secure an eight-wicket victory in Lucknow, marking a sharp turnaround from his recent form slump, which included scores of 13 and 21 in the Asian Games final and semifinal just weeks earlier.

Iyer credited a private mentoring session with former Mumbai teammate and Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nayar for the resurgence, revealing that the two had worked on refining his grip and backlift during a two-hour discussion at Iyer’s Mumbai home. Nayar, who also served as India’s former assistant coach, noted that Iyer had lost confidence in his ability to hit sixes, a signature trait of his aggressive batting style, and adjusted technical nuances to restore his rhythm and power.

The adjustment proved immediate, as Iyer’s innings showcased the same fearless strokeplay that had made him a standout in limited-overs cricket before his recent dip in consistency.

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