Hashim Amla feels one can do well in T20 without the big-hitting

When one talks about South Africa’s Hashim Amla, the first thing that comes to mind is old-school batting which is not suited to the glitz of T20. But Amla proved this season of IPL that T20 games can be won with old-school batting too. Amla, who scored his second century of this IPL against the Gujarat Lions in match 47, has left for home for national duty. But in his 1-month stay in India, he proved his point – IPL is not just about big-hitting.

The 34-year-old feels that in Twenty20 cricket it is all about being effective and scoring runs if a batsman is able to do that the technique used doesn’t really matter. He also said that there have been quite a few cricketers in the past as well who scored runs with orthodox technique.

“Everybody who plays T20 cricket has to find a way of how to maximise each ball they faces. You will find many examples of better cricketers who have been successful in T20 cricket without necessarily looking agricultural, as they say. They have played good cricketing shots and managed to get runs,” Amla said in the post-match press conference after Kings lost the game to Gujarat.

The former South African captain who has a triple century in Tests, is of the opinion that every now and then there emerges a player whom the T20 format accommodates. According to him, T20, in the past 10 years, has made enough room for old-fashioned batsmen as well.

“So, I think over the ten years of IPL and T20 cricket around the world, I know it comes up every time someone who has got his runs who is not known or is not a massive six hitter. But this has been happening for many years now. I think guys are becoming a lot more accommodating for players like that,” he said.

KXIP’s loss to Gujarat was due to their sloppy fielding. They gave two lives to Dwayne Smith who went on to score a magnificent 39-ball 74 but Amla feels that misfielding and dropped chances are a part and parcel of cricket.

“Dropped catches are part of game, it’s going to happen now and then. Before this game, we have done exceptionally well on the field and had great fielding efforts throughout the campaign. But this is one game when we haven’t been at our best and that happens.”

Punjab are currently 5th on the points table, and in order to qualify for the playoffs, they will have to win their next three matches.