The unwavering support from skipper Pat Cummins and the entire think tank played a huge role in his success in the ongoing IPL, opined Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma. The 23-year-old left-hander from Punjab has been firing on all cylinders for Hyderabad this season, making 401 runs from 12 matches and those runs coming at a whopping strike total of 205. “Our support staff and Pat (Cummins), the As they think, have I have never seen anyone else think like that,” Abhishek said on JioCinema Match Center Live after their record 10-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants here on Wednesday.
“They say, 'Go out there and express yourself. Play as aggressively as you can, we'll back you.' I think that matters a lot,” said Abhishek, who has hit 35 sixes so far, the most by any batter this season.
SRH openers Abhishek (75 not out off 28 balls) and Travis Head (89 not out off 30 balls) reduced 166 in just 9.4 overs, rewriting the record for the fastest chase of 150-plus in T20 cricket.
SRH's total of 167 was also the highest by any team in the men's T20s by the end of the tenth.
“I think I followed this approach during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy,” said Abhishek, who played a key role in Punjab winning the domestic T20 title last season.
Abhishek (485 runs from 10 matches) was the second-highest run-getter behind Riyan Parag (510) of Assam in last season's SMAT.
“I feel that if I play this way, look at the ball and react, my shots will come out better and the bowler will come under pressure. I have always thought that if I play in the IPL, I will try to fix this to keep,” he added. .
'Big fan of Head'
With Head at his explosive best, SRH has broken many batting records this season, including the highest ever IPL total of 287/3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Abhishek praised the way Head played spin.
“I don't think anyone plays spin better than Travis. The shots he hit off (Krishnappa) Gowtham, normally batters can't do that, that shows how special he is.
“He's very clear, when I talk to him, the way he compliments me, I've always been a big fan of his over the last year that I've been following him.
“As our understanding was established and our cooperation improved, we became good friends off the field and started spending more time,” he added.
Abhishek then elaborated on his strategy against the LSG bowlers, especially the pacers.
“They were bowling cutters in the middle. I thought the cutters might slow down on the go, but Travis and I planned to play it like you would hit a spinner with the spin.
“So if it's an off-cutter, we'll look at long-off covers. If it's a leg-cutter, obviously we'll look at mid-wicket or mid-on,” he added.
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