The debate around strike-rates in T20 cricket has only intensified with the arrival of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League. Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, etc. are some of the players whose strike-rates this season have been subjected to scrutiny by experts. Sanju Samson, one of the most in-form players this campaign, admitted that there’s no place for the patient approach in T20 cricket. In a candid chat with the broadcaster of the IPL 2024, the Rajasthan Royals skipper admitted that it’s difficult for batters to do hitting only in phases when it comes to the shortest format of the game.
“20 over ka game hai (it’s a 20-over game). Each and every over is five percent of the game. So you just can’t say ke bhai mere ko settle hone ke liye time chahiye (I need time to settle down), I will go for sixes after getting to 10 runs, I won’t hit this bowler, I will hit towards the end,” he said in the video.
Samson banked on his IPL form to bag a spot in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup which takes place next month. The wicket-keeper batter was blunt in his verdict as far as approach and intent chatter in T20 cricket goes. For him, the batters have to look for boundaries right from the star.
“There is only one intent in this format – just have to go out and look for boundaries. You have to show that intent, you have to look for those sixes. You have to do that impact role as soon as possible,” Samson added.
“There is no individual pattern of scoring runs in this (format). I think there is only one way — you go and dominate. If you don’t dominate, you expect yourself to get out and your teammates to go and dominate. But if everyone doesn’t dominate, we lose the game. So there is no second gear. It’s always going, going, going. That’s my belief about T20s,” he further said.
