"I believe he is the best Indian batter in the middle overs": Aakash Chopra applauds Shreyas Iyer after match winning knock against Punjab

New Delhi [India] March 26 (ANI): Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured a narrow victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in a high-scoring encounter in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday. Defending a formidable total of 243/5, Punjab managed to restrict Gujarat to 232/5, sealing a thrilling 11-run win.
Following the match former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts on the standout aspect of Shreyas Iyer's innings, he said it was a brilliant innings and cleaning hitting especially against spin. Chopra also said that Shreyas is the best Indian batter in the middle overs when it comes to taking down spinners, Aakash Chopra said on Jio Hotstar.

"It was just the clean, crisp hitting--especially against spin. I believe he is the best Indian batter in the middle overs when it comes to taking down spinners. Often, batters need to step out to create momentum before hitting over the top, but Shreyas doesn't require that. This makes it difficult for bowlers to predict his next move. " JioStar expert Aakash Chopra said while speaking on Match Center Live on JioHotstar.
Chopra also highlighted Shreyas Iyer's improved batting technique. He notes that Iyer has opened his stance slightly, allowing him to access areas he couldn't before and handle short balls more effectively. This balanced stance keeps him mobile and in control, enhancing his shot-making ability.
"It's not just his front-foot play; he effectively uses the depth of the crease to deposit deliveries over the mid-wicket fielder. One key observation is how he has slightly opened his stance. Traditionally, batting is a side-on game, but Shreyas has adjusted his back leg such that it is no longer parallel to the popping crease but slightly open, somewhere between point and cover. His bat, which used to come down almost over the off-stump, is now positioned slightly outside, allowing him to access areas he couldn't before. This adjustment has also improved his ability to handle short balls. If a batter is solely focused on the short ball with all their weight on the back leg, they risk mistiming shots. However, with Shreyas' balanced stance, he remains mobile and in control, which significantly enhances his shot-making ability." he added.
Shreyas Iyer guided his team to an exciting 11-run triumph against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the current Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday. Iyer delivered a match-winning performance, staying not out on 97 from only 42 balls.
Shashank Singh also contributed significantly with a powerful innings of 44 runs from just 16 balls, attacking the bowling from the outset of his innings. The energetic PBKS pair of Shreyas and Shashank accumulated 77 runs in the final four overs, leaving GT shaken in their own territory. (ANI)