In modern-day T20 cricket and specially a league like IPL, batters are increasingly generating power through bat swing instead of using footwork to clear boundaries. A stable base and a clean extension of the hands are allowing them to access various scoring zones and score four and sixes at will, without needing to step down the pitch often.
Here are six IPL batters who have been successful using more bat swing than footwork:
Abhishek Sharma
India and SRH opener Abhishek Sharma’s six-hitting has evolved, with help from Yuvraj Singh and Brian Lara, with the left-hander altering his grip and hitting shape. Sharma swings freely across the line, with most of his maximums coming towards long-on and down the ground, while also accessing lofted drives over cover without excessive footwork.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
RR opening batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s power comes more from his bat speed than movement. The left-hander uses a free swing to generate power, while staying balanced at the crease. The 15-year-old has largely hit sixes in the long-on to square leg arc with a clean downswing of the bat rather than expansive footwork.
Heinrich Klaasen
Klaasen’s six-hitting technique is based on a repeatable bat swing and a strong base. He uses hand speed and hip drive to generate power, staying deep in his crease and hitting through the line against spin. Most of his sixes come between long-on and midwicket, where his extension allows him to hit good length balls consistently.
Priyansh Arya
The PBKS opener’s method is built on a clean bat swing, which allows him to hit through the line without the need for big strides. He generally hits sixes on the on-side, consistently looking to clear square leg and mid-wicket regions of the ground and occasionally uses the pick-up flick, relying more on his extension over footwork.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
The RR opener’s six-hitting is based on early reading of length and bat flow. Jaiswal relies on a high backlift and powerful downswing to stay balanced and hit through the line, with his strong backfoot game allowing him to get back quickly and pull over midwicket.
Sanju Samson
Samson’s improved game, especially against spin, is based on a method involving minimal movement and maximum bat speed. The right-hander trusts his base and lets his hands dominate, generating power without over-committing forward. Samson can hit sixes on both sides of the ground, clearing boundaries with timing and a free-flowing swing.
