Abhishek Nayar has revealed how a conversation with Shreyas Iyer helped the India captain overcome a difficult period with the bat and produce his maiden T20I century. Iyer had endured a difficult start to his tenure as India’s T20I captain, with the team losing consecutive series against Ireland and England. However, the side subsequently turned its fortunes around, winning 10 matches in a row, including a gold medal-winning campaign at the 2026 Asian Games. While India continued to collect victories under Iyer’s leadership, the batter himself had struggled to make a significant contribution with the bat. That changed during the first T20I against West Indies in Lucknow, when Iyer struck an unbeaten-looking century of 102 and signalled a return to form.

Iyer’s innings came after a period in which his batting difficulties had become increasingly noticeable. Despite leading India successfully, he had not been able to produce the consistency expected from a player occupying a key position in the middle order. After his century against West Indies, Iyer credited a conversation with his former Kolkata Knight Riders coach Abhishek Nayar for helping him regain clarity and confidence. Nayar, who has worked closely with Iyer in the past, subsequently explained what they discussed and how they attempted to address the technical and mental issues that had affected the batter’s game. According to Nayar, the focus was not on making sweeping changes but on addressing three specific areas that could help Iyer regain his natural movement and confidence at the crease.

One of the key areas they worked on was Iyer’s grip. Nayar explained that a technical adjustment to the way Iyer held the bat was important in helping him feel more comfortable while playing his shots. Small changes in grip can influence how a batter controls the bat and accesses different scoring areas, particularly in T20 cricket, where there is little time to react and execute strokes. The work with Iyer was therefore aimed at restoring the movements that had previously allowed him to play with freedom. Rather than overhauling his batting technique, Nayar focused on making targeted corrections that could remove some of the restrictions Iyer had developed during his period of poor form.

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Movement was another area addressed during their discussions. Nayar worked with Iyer on how he moved at the crease and how those movements affected his ability to access the ball. For a batter such as Iyer, whose strength includes aggressive strokeplay and the ability to put pressure on bowlers, hesitation or uncertainty in movement can make it difficult to commit fully to shots. The technical tweak was intended to make his setup and movement more natural. Nayar’s intervention also had a mental component, as Iyer had developed a block around his batting after failing to convert starts and produce the kind of scores expected of him. The objective was to help him trust his movements and return to the approach that had previously brought him success.

The conversation with Nayar appears to have provided Iyer with the clarity he needed before the West Indies match. Instead of attempting to force his way out of the slump, the India captain was able to focus on a few specific adjustments and allow his natural game to return. His 102 in Lucknow was significant not only because it was his first century in T20 internationals but also because it came at a time when his batting form had been under scrutiny. The innings offered a strong indication that Iyer had managed to move past the mental block that had affected his confidence. It also gave India another important batting option at a crucial stage of their preparations and highlighted the value of the work done behind the scenes.

For Nayar, the episode demonstrates the importance of identifying the underlying problem rather than making excessive changes when a batter is struggling. The former KKR coach’s familiarity with Iyer allowed the two to focus on specific aspects of his technique, including his grip and movement, while also addressing the mental side of his difficulties. Iyer’s century against West Indies provided the immediate result, but the larger objective will be to maintain that consistency in the matches ahead. With Iyer now leading India’s T20I side and the team having put together a 10-match winning run, his return to batting form could add another dimension to their campaign. The conversation with Nayar may ultimately prove to have been an important turning point in helping the captain rediscover his confidence.

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