Sunrisers Hyderabad Take PowerPlay Batting to New Heights in IPL

With their consistent range hitting in the IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad have elevated T20 batting to a new level. According to Travis Head, the key to their aggressive strategy is making the most of the Power Play portion.

Head highlighted that strategy with a fifty during the Powerplay, which helped SRH defeat Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday with a record-breaking 287/3 thanks to his 39-ball century. Additionally, it was Head's second half-century within the first six overs.

Head stated at the press conference following the game, "We've definitely got a lot of power through our top and middle-order and I think we've sort of got to tailor the way we want to play around that power that we've got, especially in Powerplay."

The equally aggressive Abhishek Sharma is the ideal ally for the Australian opener at the top, blunting slower bowlers upfront as Head rips apart the pacers.

"I believe Abhi and I try to maximize that (Powerplay) as much as we can at the top of the order. There could be fours or sixes. However, as the two of us have so much power through that middle order, we want to try to attack the Powerplay together," Head continued.

As seen by SRH's Powerplay scores in six games this season—65/1, 81/1, 58/1, 78/1, 40/3, and 76/0—and the fact that none of the other nine teams have even approached such totals, it wasn't just a lofty assertion.

However, that wasn't a careless blow. During the first six overs, Head made his strategy clear.

"Based on the field positions, I attempt to summarize the bowlers' attempts. When there are just two fielders out in a Powerplay, I try to consider hitting the ball 360 degrees, or around the entire field, since boundaries can be reached by going through or over the infield.

I'd spent the last few days working on a few projects. I did not perform as well as I would have liked to in the previous two games. However, I was able to hit the ball the way I wanted to today, especially in the Powerplay," the left-hander remarked.

The 30-year-old also praised Sunrisers bowlers for maintaining composure in the face of rapid RCB scores, particularly captain and top pacer Pat Cummins.

"We were aware that we would most likely need to win the game with three or four outstanding overs. It's incredible to think about it, but when we reach 280, it will be a night when the bowlers must persevere, and Pat bowled really well, in my opinion.

"The game was set up by our ability to take wickets in the midst of the overs. DK (Karthik) put up a fantastic performance.

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