Format, opposition, circumstances — nothing appears to matter to R. Smaran in his present type. The Karnataka batter continued his prolific run with a career-best 67 (41b, 7×4, 2×6) — his second T20 fifty — to arrange a profitable chase of 198 in opposition to Uttarakhand within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Karnataka bought residence with 5 wickets to spare.
Smaran later mirrored that coming into the event on the again of a heavy run-scoring Ranji season helped, permitting him to “carry over confidence” and have a optimistic begin to the marketing campaign.
The 22-year-old defined that his position within the T20 setup is “quite simple” — “to take the sport deep and end issues off.”
A compact, clean-hitting batter, Smaran is very robust in opposition to spin, utilizing his lengthy levers to entry either side of the wicket. He displayed it in opposition to leg-spinner Himanshu Bish, launching two towering sixes down the bottom. There have been no funky strokes in his knock — simply pure, orthodox ball-striking.
“It’s worthwhile to get your fundamentals proper with the intention to get these large hits. However I feel I’m not a man who can right away go in and get these large hits. That’s one thing I’m attempting to work on – to get going from ball one,” he mentioned.
He added that he’s been engaged on enjoying the reverse sweep. “Each level and brief third can be in (contained in the circle) for the spinners. And I feel in the event you get that shot proper, it straightaway places stress on the bowler.”
Deepak Hooda has only one aim in thoughts – making his means again to the Indian group.
| Picture Credit score:
VIJAY SONEJI
Deepak Hooda has only one aim in thoughts – making his means again to the Indian group.
| Picture Credit score:
VIJAY SONEJI
Hooda’s easy mantra
Deepak Hooda struck an unbeaten blistering 76 (36b, 6×4, 6×6), breaking Tamil Nadu’s spirit, in Rajasthan’s six-wicket win within the opening spherical of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Talking after the win, he mentioned: “To be sincere, we had solely two days (for preparation) after the Ranji Trophy. So, I used to be simply attempting to stay to the fundamentals – I imagine T20 is all about being proactive and backing your instincts. I used to be doing that from ball one.”
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Hooda appeared to significantly goal the ‘V’ down the bottom. A hanging side of his innings was his charging and stretching ahead, making an attempt to get to the pitch of the ball. “In case you have a look at the bottom dimensions (Narendra Modi Stadium B-ground), the straight boundary is shorter. In case you go near the ball, you’ll get the prospect to hit it straight. So, that’s what I used to be pondering,” he mentioned.
Requested if he had any aim he needs to attain this T20 season, the 30-year-old mentioned: “I wish to play for India, and I’ve to attain runs for that. That’s what I wish to do. Nonetheless many runs I can rating, I’ll rating.”
Printed on Nov 26, 2025