Vijay Shankar, the Gujarat Titans\u2019 all-rounder, believes the new rule is a very tricky one for the batters, adding that the side\u2019s batting department has to be really smart in preparing for facing bouncers at any given point in an over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt has actually been a very tricky one \u2013 as a bowler, you can\u2019t keep bowling that (bouncers). As a batter, if you set up and hit one or two (boundaries), then for a bowler to actually go to another plan is not easy. As a bowler, one has to use that in the right way. There are a few grounds in India which are really big in terms of square boundaries and on those venues, every fast-bowler will use bouncers.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt is just about handling those things; we are practising so hard and have to prepare for everything. When you walk in, you just have to react to whatever is bowled towards you, which is a good challenge actually.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cUsually, after the first bouncer is bowled, as a batter, you then become ready to hit the stripes. Now it is that anytime the bouncer can be bowled, or they can even use a slower bouncer. So, we need to be really smart as a batting unit and be prepared about the different kinds of deliveries one can face in a game,\u201d said Shankar while replying to a query from IANS in a virtual press conference organised by the franchise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gujarat Titans, the IPL 2022 winners, have a new captain in Shubman Gill and Shankar thinks there hasn\u2019t been much difference in the team\u2019s functioning after previous skipper Hardik Pandya moved to Mumbai Indians, adding the young opener has done well as a leader so far.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t see a big difference because as players, when you get your role clarity from the support staff, management, and even the captain, it actually becomes very simple. You just have to go out there and do what is expected of you. Last two years, it was Hardik and now it\u2019s Shubman, so there\u2019s been no difference actually.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn the first two games, there was really not much of a difference. The first game went really close, and we were able to pull things back. In the second, they (CSK) batted really well, and it became a tough game for us. But then, as a captain, it is about backing the players and he\u2019s doing that really well,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It is still early days in the competition for Shankar, who made 301 runs in 14 games, with an average of 37.63 and strike-rate of 160.11 in GT\u2019s runners-up finish in IPL 2023. He puts down his renewed success in the bat in the IPL to his ability to adapt well as per the needs of the side. \u201cIf you see the first game, I batted at number six, and in the second, I batted at number four. For me, it is about adapting to different situations because it is not easy for a player to keep playing up and down, but that is what is expected of me.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEven last year, I batted at different batting positions and was able to do well for the team. It\u2019s not about where I bat; it's about whether I can adapt myself in a given situation and if I can take the team to a good position. If I can help the team win or two from there, then it will be the best thing for me.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIf I am batting at number four, five, six, and seven, then you have to be flexible about adapting your batting in different situations. It\u2019s been very clear here and also, even last year, it was like this. In the game against RCB, I batted at number three and then in qualifiers, I batted at number six and seven.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt is all about adapting myself and giving my best to the team. Someone has to do that role and I am very happy to adapt to different situations and conditions for the team\u2019s needs, which is the most important thing at the end of the day,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After GT\u2019s six-run win over MI in their tournament opener at Ahmedabad, left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore hailed the team culture established under head coach Ashish Nehra, where competing and staying in the game without being worried about the outcome has been the mantra.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shankar echoed the same views, pointing out how players being treated equally in the GT camp has made the entire unit secure, leading them to put their best foot forward in every outing. \u201cHonestly, it has been one of the best team environments in terms of everything. The way Ashish Nehra deals with every individual in the team is actually so heartening to see because it\u2019s not easy to give importance to every individual on the side.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen a practice session goes for almost five to six hours, which is very rare, every individual gets their opportunity and are treated equally in this team. We have the captain, senior players, as well as players who have just now come into IPL \u2013 but if you see in the dressing room, all are treated equally. So, that\u2019s the best thing about this team for the last three years.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen you win, yes definitely, everything will look good. But it\u2019s also about taking care of other things \u2013 like our own cricket because the work ethic put in and the way he handles every individual in this team \u2013 treating them equally \u2013 is the best thing as no one feels insecure here and everyone feels it\u2019s a safe place to be in, which is very important in a tournament like IPL,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ipl-2024-need-to-be-really-smart-as-a-batting-unit-in-preparing-for-two-bouncer-rule-says-vijay-shankar.jpg", "alt_img": "IPL 2024: Need to be really smart as a batting unit in preparing for two-bouncer rule, says Vijay Sh", "alt_title": "IPL, Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, IPL, qualifier 2,Tilak Varma,", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "IPL 2024: Need To Be Really Smart As A Batting Unit In Preparing For Two-bouncer Rule, Says Vijay Shankar On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "IPL 2024: Need To Be Really Smart As A Batting Unit In Preparing For Two-bouncer Rule, Says Vijay Shankar, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: The T20 has majorly been a batter-friendly format with bowlers allowed only one bouncer to bowl.", "seo_keywords": "India Premier League, Gujarat Titans, Vijay Shankar, IANS Photo, The T20, Indian Premier League, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians, After GT, Sai Kishore, Ashish Nehra", "tag": "", "tagging": "India Premier League, Gujarat Titans, Vijay Shankar, IANS Photo, The T20, Indian Premier League, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians, After GT, Sai Kishore, Ashish Nehra", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "ipl-2024-need-to-be-really-smart-as-a-batting-unit-in-preparing-for-two-bouncer-rule-says-vijay-shankar", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "1305", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2024-03-30 11:48:04", "updated": "2024-03-30 11:48:04", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "India Premier League, Gujarat Titans, Vijay Shankar, IANS Photo, The T20, Indian Premier League, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians, After GT, Sai Kishore, Ashish Nehra", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-03-30 11:48:04", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/ipl-2024-need-to-be-really-smart-as-a-batting-unit-in-preparing-for-two-bouncer-rule-says-vijay-shankar-141441" }