‘Changed Shreyas’ grip & backlift’: How Nayar helped India T20I captain bounce back
Indian T20I captain Shreyas Iyer overcame a recent batting slump after a technical consultation with mentor Abhishek Nayar. The adjustments to his grip and backlift resulted in a match-winning century against the West Indies.
Why it matters
The story illustrates the impact of personalized coaching and psychological support on the performance of elite professional athletes.
MUMBAI: Since he scored an 80 not out against England in July, India's T20I captain Shreyas Iyer had been experiencing a rare slump in white-ball cricket, where he’s usually highly consistent, having failed to cross 30 in his last 10 T20I innings.Soon after he landed back in Mumbai after leading India to the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, where he was out for 13 & 21 in the semi-final and final, Shreyas, surely concerned by his dip in form, sought out his old Mumbai teammate, friend and 'mentor' Abhishek Nayar, India's former assistant coach and currently the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, for help.The result: Iyer cracked a brilliant 43-ball 102 not out, including six sixes and 10 fours, to fashion India's eight-wicket triumph in the opening T20I against West Indies in Lucknow.After his blazing knock, Iyer said in a video released by the BCCI…
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