Shreyas Iyer Shamed for Weak Play in IPL 2025 Qualifier vs RCB

Shreyas Iyer got it hard during the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Ex-Australian cricketer Tom Moody didn't have any kind words for Shreyas's batting play. He asked Shreyas to keep his ego in his pocket when he couldn't play big in that match of utmost importance. In that game Shreyas was able to contribute only two runs before being dismissed by Josh Hazlewood. Punjab Kings scored a mere 101 runs in total which was not sufficient to disturb Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Tom Moody analyzed on ESPNCricinfo Timeout that Shreyas Iyer should have realized the situation and played in a manner accordingly. Moody was of the opinion that Shreyas did not read the situation appropriately and his strategy was incorrect. He said that sometimes in cricket you have to keep your ego aside and just focus on moving ahead by playing smart cricket. Moody said that this was the perfect example of not understanding the situation and instead trying to prove something which was not needed. Moody stated that if Shreyas had simply kept his head down and been about staying at the crease, the game could have been different.

Shreyas Iyer was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood and that was a turning point in the game. Hazlewood had got Shreyas out numerous times in the past and it seemed like Shreyas was attempting to get the better of him by playing a big shot. But according to Moody, that was not the correct approach. According to him, Shreyas should have played conservatively and attempted to see out Hazlewood's spell before attacking the other bowlers. Moody also mentioned that the first ball Shreyas got was a great delivery and he played at it without actually wanting to play at it. Then in the third ball he got dismissed which indicated that he didn't know the situation of the game.

Sunil Gavaskar who was providing commentary for the match also spoke about the poor shot selection of Shreyas Iyer. According to Gavaskar, it was disheartening to see an experienced batsman like Shreyas getting out like this. According to Gavaskar, Shreyas knew better and should have played the situation rather than playing an avoidable shot. Shreyas Iyer has played against Josh Hazlewood several times previously and his statistics against Hazlewood are not impressive. Moody stated that Shreyas should have known this and played more cautiously. He stated that Shreyas would have known the precise figures and the number of times Hazlewood had gotten him out previously. But notwithstanding that, he decided to play a hard shot and got the cost for it.

The Punjab Kings side lacked the fighting spirit after Shreyas Iyer was dismissed. They were bowled out for only 101 runs that is a low total in T20 cricket. Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased the target comfortably and won the game. This loss was a huge setback for Punjab Kings as they had played well in the group stage to find a place in the qualifiers. But on the match day their batting simply disintegrated. The dismissal of Shreyas Iyer was the turning point and demonstrated how much one needs to play by the situation.

Tom Moody's suggestion to Shreyas Iyer to keep his ego in his pocket was a stern message. It proved that regardless of how skilled a player you are you should remain humble and treat the conditions and the bowler in front of you with respect. Cricket is a sport of thin margins and one slip can lead your team to lose the match. Shreyas Iyer is a skilled batsman and he has played some fine innings in the past. But on that day his choice to take a dangerous shot instead of playing safe did his team no good.

Most fans were also upset with Shreyas Iyer's show. Social media was flooded with criticism against him with people commenting that he should have played more responsibly in such an important match. A few fans opined that he ought to learn from this and ensure that he does not commit the same error again. Shreyas Iyer has always been perceived as a very promising player but at times he attempts to hit shots that are unnecessary. When playing T20 cricket, one ought to balance being aggressive with caution. When wickets fall early it means a great amount of pressure on the rest of the team and that is what inflicted on Punjab Kings in that match.

Josh Hazlewood bowled excellently in that match and he made use of his experience to get rid of Shreyas Iyer early. Hazlewood has always been a difficult bowler to play against as he can swing the ball both ways and he bowls with excellent discipline. Shreyas Iyer would have known this but yet he attempted to play a big shot and got out. In cricket you must show respect to the bowler particularly when you are aware that he has got you out numerous times previously. Shreyas did not do that and it cost his team and himself.

Tom Moody's comments may sound blunt but they are real. In cricket and in life sometimes you need to forget about your ego and do what is best for your team. Shreyas Iyer is a young player and he has time to learn from this blunder. Hopefully he will listen to Moody's words of wisdom in the proper manner and return even stronger in the next game. Shreyas possesses the talent and the capability to score big hundreds. He simply needs to understand how to read the game and play the situation more intelligently.

Cricket is a collective game and the fault of one player can turn the game around. Shreyas Iyer's dismissal proved that irrespective of how much you know you need to keep learning and improving. Tom Moody's advice was straightforward and direct – keep your ego in your pocket and play smart cricket. That is what any cricketer needs to remember when going out to bat for a big game.

Shreyas Iyer will definitely reflect on this match and on what went wrong. He can learn from it if he can and return in a better state of mind to be an even better cricketer. Until then Punjab Kings will need to regroup and work on how they are going to play better in the next game. Shreyas Iyer's flop show against Royal Challengers Bengaluru was a lesson to all about reading the game and playing for the team.