Kushagra says it is not just about hitting the ball, but timing it well.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI
Kumar Kushagra, whose unbeaten 48-ball 84 (5×4, 5×6) at No. 3 helped Jharkhand post 207 for three and secure a 28-run win against Tamil Nadu in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at the Narendra Modi Stadium B-Ground here on Saturday, said he wanted to take his innings deep on a slow morning surface.
“The wicket was a bit sticky. Whenever you are playing a game early in the morning, it’s always sticky here in Ahmedabad. So, I was just trying to take the innings as deep as I could,” he said after the win.
The 21-year-old was pleased with his timing against the new ball in the PowerPlay, crediting a sharp two-day tune-up with his father-trainer Shashikant before the tournament.
“Since I was getting the chance to play at No. 3, I had to learn to use the PowerPlay. It is not just about hitting the ball, but timing it initially. When the ball is swinging, you have to time it into the gaps and chip it over the infielders. That’s what I worked on with my father, and it really helped,” he said.
For Kushagra, a big part of his growth has come from learning how to move beyond being just a power-hitter, something he attributes to Gujarat Titans (GT) Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki. After buying him at the IPL 2025 auction, GT has retained him for the upcoming season.
“I got so many tips from Vikram sir, because he was with me when I wasn’t playing. He was with me in the nets, guiding me very nicely when I was struggling with the new ball. Initially, when I came into the IPL, I was just a hitter. Vikram sir taught me how I can score in the PowerPlay and then build the innings. He taught me how to build an innings while maintaining a good strike rate and finish with a strong total. He has helped my batting a lot,” he said.
Published – December 07, 2025 07:58 pm IST