'Feel overwhelmed that Australia planned a strategy against me': Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer felt an honour and overwhelmed that the Australians had a strategy of bowling bouncers and short-piched deliveries against him in the first two ODIs of the three-match series.

Iyer, who in both the games has got out to shorter deliveries, one full-paced and other a slower one, sees that strategy as an opportunity to score runs.

Speaking at a virtual press conference, Iyer said, "I definitely know that they've planned against me. So I'm really happy. At least they're coming up with a plan against me to get me out. 

"I feel very overwhelmed and take it as a challenge because, you see, I thrive under pressure. And also, it really motivates to go against them. They set attacking fields which really helps me to score runs, so I take advantage of that and I see to it that I make the best use of it."

After getting out awkwardly, early in the first ODI, Iyer made 38 in the second before getting out to a stunning catch by Steve Smith.

Talking about his dismissal in the first ODI, where he didn't play the ball properly nor did he leave it, Iyer said, "I knew the short ball was going to come so I was in two minds.

"I was thinking of pulling and at the same time I have the upper cut. I got stuck in between two shots and I couldn't play the shot. So maybe that's the reason I got stuck in one place; and the ball came and hit the middle of the bat even that time."

In the second, he looked much more confident and in the moment, wanting to play positive cricket, walking against faster bowlers to counter their short ball strategy.

"In the second match, I was just like - look at the ball and react. It's very easy to do that, rather than think what the bowler is bowling.

"You can actually predict, once you are set, what the bowler is going to bowl, so I usually give myself time at the start and that's what I applied in the second match and it really worked out well," he added.

Determined to win the Final game

India after losing the first two ODIs, quite comfortably are on the verge of suffering a clean sweep at the hands of the Aussies. Shreyas Iyer, however, said that India are determined to avoid the whitewash.

"We are very much determined to win the next game and see to it that we don't have a clean sweep.

"The two losses, we are going to take positively. We played good cricket, in terms of batting. Obviously, the bowlers weren't up to the mark but I am sure the bowlers are positive in their work ethics. Also, when we practiced today, we were able to see bowlers practicing with certain plans. And the meetings are spot on," he said.

In the two games, the bowling attack, especially, hasn't fired and has looked out of sorts. Australia have made 374 and 389 in the two games and bowlers haven't been able to control the run-scoring.

Iyer emphasised on the fact that they were still in the transition period from T20s to the 50-over games, but was hopeful of an improved performance in the final game.

"If you see the amount of workload they've gone through in the IPL - playing 14 games - and after that they've come here and stayed in quarantine - definitely it plays on your mind. And it plays with every individual in the team, it's not just the bowlers."

"We are working on some routines and processes which haven't gone well for us in the last few games. And I am sure it's just the transition phase from T20 to one-dayers. It is really difficult, especially for the bowlers coming in and bowling 10 overs on the trot," Iyer added.