There was a certain calmness in Shreyas Iyer’s innings at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday evening. The Indian middle-order batter batted with a silent conviction. It came from a renewed belief in his own rhythm. The second ODI against Australia began on a tricky note for India.
Xavier Bartlett dismissed Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli in quick succession in the seventh over. Yet amid that early setback, Iyer found steadiness. His partnership with Rohit Sharma became the spine of India’s innings. They added 118 runs that carried the side from doubt to control.
Every shot Iyer played looked assured. His footwork stayed balanced, and his timing was sharp. The 30-year-old's half-century meant more than just a number on the board; it reflected technical clarity. After the match, Iyer spoke with satisfaction about his revised batting stance.
The Indian ODI vice-captain said that he had returned to a more upright stance. That stance had defined his early days as a cricketer. He explained that this change came after he discussed it with his coach. Together, they refined the stance so he could handle bounce better on faster tracks. He didn’t completely change his technique; he simply rediscovered what once felt natural.
That rediscovery brought visible calm to his game. Iyer said that he tested the stance in domestic cricket. After finding success, he kept using it in international matches. The change gave him better balance and timing. India scored 264/9, and Australia chased it down in 46.2 overs. Still, Iyer’s innings stood out for its sense of purpose. It showed a player who trusted his instincts again.
"Well, this technique which I've got lately, it's not that I've changed over the time, but since last year, I wanted to have an upright stance where the bounce is a little bit more than expected. And based on that, I worked with my coach and we developed this new technique and it was kind of suiting me pretty well. And the way I grew up playing, it was very much that I predominantly had an upright stance," Iyer said in the post-match press conference.
"And I just was like, let's go back to my old technique and see how it paces up. So yeah, I backed myself and then from there on, I started in the domestic. And then till now, I've been continuing with the same stance," he added.
Shreyas Iyer’s Steady Claim at Number Four
In many ways, Iyer has brought stability to India’s long-standing puzzle at number four. For years, that slot lacked both quality and reliability. Iyer changed that story through consistency and confidence. He has shown clarity with his thinking, absorbs pressure, stays composed, and lifts the scoring rate when needed. During the 2023 World Cup, the Mumbaikar emerged as a key figure for the team. He scored 530 runs at an average of 66.25 and a strike rate above 113.
Iyer now handles both pace and spin with ease. He has erased the weakness against short balls that once drew criticism. His improved stance, as he explained, helps him manage bounce and pace more effectively. Every innings now shows maturity and self-trust. Iyer doesn’t chase flamboyance; he builds control.
What makes his resurgence impressive is the silent way he has gone about it. The 30-year-old doesn’t seek attention; he just focuses on steady progress. For India, Iyer has become more than a middle-order batter. He anchors the innings and gives it direction. As his form continues to grow, the number four position finally rests in capable hands.
