Opener Abhishek Sharma credits captain Pat Cummins, SRH support staff after big win against LSG Cricket News

Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma believes that the unwavering support of captain Pat Cummins and the entire think-tank played a big role in their success in the ongoing IPL. The 23-year-old left-hander from Punjab has been firing on all cylinders for Hyderabad this season, scoring 401 runs in 12 matches and those runs come at an impressive strike-rate of 205. “The way they think, I have never seen anyone else think like this,” Abhishek, our support staff and Pat (Cummins), said on GeoCinema Match Center Live after the record 10-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants here on Wednesday. Didn’t see him thinking.”

“They say, ‘Go out there and express yourself. Play as aggressively as you can, we’ll support you.’ I think it means a lot,” said Abhishek, who has hit 35 sixes so far, the most by any batsman this season.

SRH openers Abhishek (75 not out off 28 balls) and Travis Head (89 not out off 30 balls) rewrote the record for the fastest chase of over 150 in T20 cricket by scoring 166 runs in just 9.4 overs.

SRH’s total of 167 runs by the end of the tenth over was the highest by any team in men’s T20.

Abhishek, who played a key role in Punjab winning the domestic T20 title last season, said, “I think this is the approach I adopted during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.”

Abhishek (485 runs in 10 matches) was the second-highest run-scorer in last season’s SMAT behind Assam’s Riyan Parag (510).

He said, “I think when I play like this, see the ball and react, my shots come better and the bowler comes under pressure. I always thought that if I play in the IPL, So I’ll try to maintain it.” ,

‘Big fan of Head’

With their explosive best performances, SRH have broken several batting records this season, including the highest ever IPL score of 287/3 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Abhishek appreciated Head’s way of playing spin.

“I don’t think anyone plays spin better than Travis. The shots he (Krishnappa) hit on Gowtham, which normally batsmen can’t do, shows how special he is.

“He is very candid, whenever I talk to him, the way he compliments me, I have always been a big fan of his since last year, ever since I followed him.

“When our understanding was established and our partnership improved, we became good friends off the field and started spending more time together,” he said.

Abhishek then discussed his strategy against the LSG bowlers, especially the fast bowlers.

“They were bowling cutters on the middle. I thought the cutters might be slow on their way, but Travis and I had planned to play it the same way you hit a spinner with spin.

“So, if it is an off-cutter, we want to hit towards long-off cover. If it is a leg cutter, then obviously we look at mid-wicket or mid-on,” he said.

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