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How Abhishek Nayar helped Shreyas Iyer find his power and confidence

Shreyas Iyer finally broke through for his first T20 International century in dramatic fashion, scoring an unbeaten 102 off just 43 balls during India’s eight-wicket win over the West Indies in Lucknow on October 6. The explosive innings—featuring 10 fours and six sixes—marked a turning point for the Indian captain, who had struggled with a lack of power and confidence in his six-hitting before the series.

His technical issues became apparent during India’s gold medal-winning campaign at the Asian Games 2027 in Japan, where his shots lacked their usual force and he found it difficult to clear boundaries with conviction.

The solution came from longtime mentor Abhishek Nayar, whom Iyer consulted at his Mumbai home ahead of the series. During a two-hour session focused on grip and backlift adjustments, Nayar made subtle but critical tweaks to Iyer’s batting setup.

These changes restored the captain’s power and self-belief, with the immediate impact visible in his aggressive approach against the West Indies. Nayar, now the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, emphasized that the focus should remain on consistency rather than chasing another century, urging Iyer to trust the refinements as India prepares for the second T20I in Ranchi.

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