I always want to dominate the game, says East keeper-batter Kushagra

Kumar Kushagra was not even 18 when he grew to become the youngest to attain a 250-plus rating in a First-Class match. That innings, towards Nagaland in March 2022 in the course of the Ranji Trophy, got here at a strike price of 98.88, with 37 fours and two sixes.

The East Zone batter likes taking over the bowlers and has a precocious understanding of which pictures to play and the place precisely to hit them.

“At the higher level, if you remain in defensive mode, the bowlers will pounce on you. Initially, if you hit the bowler for two-three sixes or good boundaries, then the bowler starts going as per your game plan,” Kushagra instructed Sportstar.

“I always want to dominate the game. I have always felt that dominating is more profitable,” he added.

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Kushagra’s mentality of taking over “any bowler” has been on show in the course of the ongoing Deodhar Trophy the place he performed two essential knocks – 98 vs North Zone and 53 vs West Zone – and has scored 159 runs in 4 innings with the assistance of eight sixes and as many fours.

His use of the crease and stepping out towards the spinners has been a spotlight to observe, one thing which he has practised earlier than coming to the Southern a part of the nation the place the ball turns extra and bounces much less.

Riyan Parag (L) and Kumar Kushagra (R), East Zone batter in Action towards West Zone in Deodhar Trophy 2023 on the CAP Ground 2.
| Photo Credit:
Mayank/Sportstar

“Stepping out is something I have practised. When we come to South, the wickets are slow, so the ball doesn’t come onto the bat, so it’s better to reach the ball and hit rather than wait for the ball where the chances of hitting it is low.”

The two memorable innings Kushagra performed within the final week got here whereas one other teen, Riyan Parag, was on the crease with him. Against North, the duo added 235 runs for the sixth wicket, and, after East was decreased to 57 for 5 and towards West, the pair as soon as once more joined palms to sew collectively 150.

“Our communication is quite good. Before the game we sit down together and talk about which bowler to target, how the pitch is behaving, and what the bowler is doing,” he mentioned.

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“Since we play at such positions, we know we can’t afford to lose our wickets, so the focus is always to remain calm and attack at the same time.”

During Tuesday’s sport, with the ball spinning and never coming onto the bat properly, the duo determined to take the sport deep after coming to the crease within the thirty first over with 157 on the board. The duo targeted on taking the singles relatively than making an attempt large pictures, nevertheless it didn’t appear as if they had been operating quick, in all probability preserving power on a scorching and humid day in Puducherry.

“We initially targeted around 240 runs but once we got set, we decided to attack, and with some extraordinary hits went past 300 runs.”