a A series-deciding clash at the Holkar Stadiumfollowing the frustrations of his fans, he reached his breaking point Shreyas Iyer’338 runs were dismissed in a mammoth chase.
He was expected to provide stability next to Iyer, who recently returned from a severe spleen injury Virat Kohli after early losses Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Instead, his short stay ended with a poor shot selection that left the Indore crowd in pin-drop silence and sparked a firestorm on social media. With India reeling at 71/4 in the 13th over, the middle-order collapse put an almost impossible burden on Kohli. Fans took to platforms like X to criticize the “irresponsible” approach in the high-stakes final, questioning Iyer’s match fitness for such a high-pressure role.
A critical lapse in Shreyas Iyer’s decision in his toughest hour in Indore, India
Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal in the 12th over was a classic example of “dropping it” when the situation called for extreme caution. Facing medium pace Christian ClarkeIyer looked unsettled after a series of dot balls and attempted a needless, wide shot against a length bounce outside the off stump. Without the required timing or placement, the ball deflected off the bat and moved smoothly. Zachary Foulkes in the middle, who doesn’t have to move an inch to complete the catch.
This poor frame was particularly worrisome for the fans as it came at a time when Kohli was finding his rhythm at the other end and India needed a very long partnership to weather the New Zealand storm. For a player of Iyer’s experience, especially as the team’s vice-captain, failing to adjust to the required run-rate has resulted in a schoolboy error and has now put India’s home record in serious jeopardy. Iyer’s departure for just 6 runs brought wide smiles from the home crowd as the onus of chasing 338 now falls solely on Kohli and the inexperienced lower order.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
10 runs off the ball as Shreyas Iyer’s very poor shot goes for 3. I was very disappointed with him in this series, especially when he threw the door💔💔 pic.twitter.com/WVQiTXb1ff
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) January 18, 2026
Shreyas Iyer is a con man who folds under pressure. He only scores when everyone else scores and he has no idea how to play the short ball.#INDvsNZ #INDvNZ #INDVSNZODI pic.twitter.com/RfrzcYbrcv
— Neeraj (@NeerajY00859341) January 18, 2026
Very poor cricket from Shreyas Iyer. Mark my words that he will not play a game in the T20 series against New Zealand. Gambhir’s expression after that shot said it all.
– Armchair Expert (@cricnator) January 18, 2026
Shreyas Iyer is a brash and impatient guy. He got the opportunity to cash in confidently in the t20Is and continue. Now focus on your layoffs while sitting in the shelter.
— Rajneesh Singh 🦇 (@CFC_Palmer2O) January 18, 2026
Shreyas Iyer to the short ball again. For all PR, he has the same weakness and rarely performs when India lose early wickets. #INDvsNZ
— Traveler (@DisDatNothin) January 18, 2026
I just feel Shreyas Iyer doesn’t get enough hate…. pic.twitter.com/QDLVkah3oq
— Atharv Shukla (@Atharb_) January 18, 2026
Many batsmen have been over-excited by their IPL performances. Shreyas Iyer is one of them. When was the last time he had the innings and made it to the finish line.
— Bundy (@_therealNobody) January 18, 2026
Last ODI, Iyer played the same shot in straight middle, this ODI he played it in straight middle.
— arfan (@Im__Arfan) January 18, 2026
Iyer should work his way into the strike rotation as soon as possible. He cannot depend too much on boundaries or miss shots. In big tournaments, bowlers come prepared and won’t give you any gifts. You really have to be on top, especially when you’re going to play in South Africa…
— 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭!𝟎𝐧_👑🚩 (@bholination) January 18, 2026
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Iyer’s rollercoaster comeback in IND vs NZ ODI series
Shreyas Iyer’s performance remained the subject of intense scrutiny as India’s middle order crumbled below a massive target of 338 runs in the high-stakes series decider against New Zealand on 18 January 2026. Returning to international cricket in late 2025 after a severe spleen injury, Iyer’s streak has been a mix of promising starts and frustrating collapses.
After a 47 off 49 balls in the Vadodara game that saw him anchor the chase alongside Virat Kohli, his form dipped sharply in the subsequent matches, managing just 8 in Rajkot and a disappointing 6 in Indore. Going into the last ODI, Iyer was on the verge of becoming the fastest Indian to reach 3000 ODI runs, needing just 34 runs to surpass. Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli. However, his inability to convert his starts in the second half of the series not only delayed his personal milestone but also made India’s middle order look weak due to the lack of a steady anchor to support Kohli’s lone monster efforts.
The series finale at the Holkar Stadium exposed the widening cracks in the Indian batting line-up, with Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal the decisive turning point in their chase of 337/8. Despite scoring a legendary average of 66 against the Black Caps, Iyer looked out of sorts and was reduced to just 6 after a mistimed catch from Clarke at long-on.
Also READ: Fans erupt as Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips hit crazy centuries in IND vs NZ 3rd ODI.
