New Delhi, March 27 Sai Sudharsan is prioritizing versatility over high strike rates as he prepares for the IPL, after returning from a rib injury. He has been working on his skills after a challenging period with the Indian Test team.
The 24-year-old, who scored 759 runs at a strike rate of around 145 in last year's IPL, had a difficult time with the Indian Test team, aggregating 302 runs in six matches at an average of 27.45.
While he had a couple of half-centuries in 11 Test innings, his overall performance was not as impressive.
"I think I was grateful for the experience. I'm not viewing it as a failure. It has shown me what I need to improve," Sudharsan told
Playing for India has been a learning experience for the batter.
"It has shown me what I need to work on and improve. So, I'm not thinking of it as a failure. I'm thinking it has given me an opportunity to work on more things, and it's helping me evolve."
"And obviously, it has made me believe in myself more," Sudharsan added.
Sudharsan faced a difficult period towards the end of last season, struggling to score big against South Africa and then sustaining a rib injury while playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
He had a two-month break, and he used this time to work on his skills with his childhood coach, Jayakumar.
"Emotionally, I'm not looking at it as a very difficult time. I've had an opportunity to work on my body and my batting," Sudharsan explained.
Focusing on chasing big scores
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T20 cricket has seen the fastest evolution, and Sudharsan aims to stay ahead of the curve by developing his own game rather than simply copying those who are setting records.
"Since the game has also evolved, and the scores are evolving. So, I think as batters, what can we do? What are the combinations if we want to chase a very big total?"
"So, I think I have put more effort on mentally how to look at those scores and obviously the decision-making for that. So, I think I have worked more on that," he said.
High strike-rate or versatility
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Players like Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have changed the powerplay batting style, but Sudharsan, with a career strike rate of 139, doesn't want to reinvent the wheel that has been successful for him.
"I think it is important to have that versatility. It is important to look at it that way rather than just looking at I want to improve my strike rate. Rather than that, I think I am looking to be more versatile."
The massive powerplay overs that teams are seeing nowadays also depend on many factors.
"I think it depends so much on the conditions. It depends so much on a lot of variables. Yes, they (Abhishek, Sanju Samson, Sooryavanshi) have done a brilliant job. And as batters, we would love to and especially I would love to learn from that. And I would love to up my bar as well for sure."
For Sudharsan, it's all about how the team wants him to play.
"If the wicket is really good, yes, we will also have to do that (up the strike-rate). But if the wicket is tacky, if the wicket is a little difficult, we will have to be versatile enough to adapt to that as well. I think I am focusing a lot more on being versatile and taking the innings longer and making the team win."
Gill is a very trustworthy person
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Having opened the batting with Shubman Gill for several years, a strong bond of trust has developed, and he knows he can discuss his doubts or mental state with the GT captain.
"Shubman as a captain is a very trustworthy person. He makes you feel that you belong to the team. He keeps you in a very good place."
"He is very instinctive. He knows what you are feeling. Most of the times, when I was feeling something in my mind, he used to tell me, 'I understand what you are feeling but you are there.'
"At times, he would tell me something to make me feel a bit more positive or make me feel a bit more grounded. I think he is one of the great captains I have played under," Sudharsan said, with no doubt about Gill's leadership.