Extensive training sessions with the longest practice hours have helped Gujarat Titans’ Abhinav Manohar improve his ability to strike the ball.
The 28-year-old, who represents Karnataka in the domestic circuit, hit a 21-ball 42 on Tuesday in the defending champions’ 55-run win over Mumbai Indians.
“I think our team trains the most, it has the longest practice hours so we get to bat a lot as batsmen so that really helps us out there in the middle. We have done it so many times, it just becomes a muscle memory to do it while we play a game,” Man of the Match Manohar said at the post-match news conference.
“Our practice sessions, we had two camps prior to the IPL for a week each which really helped us. I know my role in the team. It is made very clear by the franchise and that helps as well.”
Manohar struck the ball cleanly on Tuesday, hitting three sixes and as many fours. “Compared to last year I was a bit slow on the field, that’s something that I’ve worked on throughout the year and my striking ability has improved since last year... that’s due to a lot of throwdowns,” he said.
Speaking about skipper Hardik Pandya, Manohar called him a world-class batter.
“Hardik is a world-class batsmen and it’s just a matter of time when he comes back and I’m sure in the next few days he’s going to do something special,” he said.
