Shreyas Iyer breaks silence on why he took a break from red-ball cricket after IND vs AUS 2nd ODI

India's star batter Shreyas Iyer explained why he took a break and stepped away from red-ball cricket for a while. After India's two-wicket defeat to Australia in the second ODI, Iyer underscored the crucial need to manage one's workload across all formats to sustain high intensity, especially in demanding red-ball cricket. Iyer elaborated on how his current approach to workload and specific technical adjustments have been vital in maintaining his consistency and confidence on the field.

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Shreyas Iyer explains why he took time off from red-ball cricket

Iyer consciously made the decision to take a time off red-ball cricket earlier this month. He had formally requested a six-month break from red-ball cricket due to persistent concerns about his back. This request was reviewed and subsequently approved by the BCCI, allowing him to focus on limited-overs formats and better manage his physical health.

"When I field for long hours in red-ball cricket, I've realised my intensity tends to drop. At the international level, that can make a difference. In ODIs, you have rest days and time to recover, so it's easier to manage. Based on that, I've planned my approach," Iyer said at the post-match press conference.

The 30-year-old also mentioned a key technical adjustment he has recently made, i.e. returning to a more upright batting stance. He credits this change with significantly boosting his adaptability across various playing surfaces and conditions.

"The technique I've got lately is not something that I've changed suddenly. Since last year, I wanted to have an upright stance, especially on wickets where the bounce is a little more than expected. I worked with my coach on it, and it has been suiting me quite well. I grew up playing with that kind of stance, so I just thought of going back to my old method and seeing how it works out," he further stated.

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I've changed my stance several times now: Iyer

The 30-year-old batsman also talked about the necessity of adjusting his game to suit the specific playing conditions he faces.

"Even in Mumbai, when we play on red-soil wickets with extra bounce, an upright stance helps. You have to keep chopping and changing because every surface is different. I've changed my stance several times now, and I feel I can adapt anywhere at the moment," Iyer added.

Iyer stitched a crucial 118-run partnership with Rohit Sharma against a challenging Australian bowling attack to help India post a competitive total of 264/9. However, India ended up losing the match by two wickets which cost them the series. The Mumbai-batter also commented on his time on the crease with Rohit:

"Hazlewood was bowling brilliantly. The ball was seaming in and out, and it wasn't an easy wicket to bat on at the start. We wanted to have an attacking approach but also rotate strike as much as possible. It was about ensuring we reached a total from where we could put pressure on the bowlers later," he concluded.

Australia, having sealed the series 2-0, will take on India in the third and final ODI on October 25 in Sydney.