Shreyas Iyer Falls for Short-Ball Trap Again, Simon Doull Questions His Shot Selection

Shreyas Iyer played a crucial knock for India against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but his dismissal raised concerns once again. Despite working on his short-ball weakness, Iyer fell into the same trap set by Will O’Rourke during the match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Iyer attempted to take on a well-directed bouncer but mistimed his shot, resulting in an easy catch for Will Young. His decision to go for a big hit instead of playing cautiously drew criticism from former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull.

Simon Doull Criticizes Iyer’s Shot Selection

Speaking on Star Sports, Doull questioned Iyer’s approach, stating that the Indian batter failed to play smart cricket.

“Not smart cricket by Shreyas Iyer. He has been troubled by the short ball in the past, but he still decided to fight fire with fire. He knew the bowler’s plan, yet he couldn’t resist going for the big shot. He could have easily left a few balls alone.”

Former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith also agreed with Doull’s opinion.

“Poor shot selection by Iyer. He did everything right before this stroke.”

Shreyas Iyer’s Contribution in the Match

Despite his dismissal, Iyer played a key role in India’s innings. He scored 79 runs off 98 balls, hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes. He also shared a crucial 98-run partnership with Axar Patel (41 off 62), helping India reach 249/9 in 50 overs.

However, his mode of dismissal once again brought his short-ball struggles into focus, leaving experts and fans debating whether he could have approached the situation differently.