"I like taking risks and that helps in the powerplay:" Wriddhiman Saha

Gujarat Titans batter Wriddhiman Saha talks about his intent in the first six overs of the powerplay. Saha clearly expressed that he always tries to hit boundaries if any loose ball came to him. He is ready to take risks in the powerplay and he thinks that it will definitely help the upcoming batsmen to settle down.

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So far in this season, Wriddhiman Saha has been in good touch for the Titans. Among Indian batters, only Prithvi Shaw, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Tripathi, and Suryakumar Yadav have scored quicker than Saha in the powerplay.

Of all batters who've faced at least 500 balls in the first six overs of IPL innings, only ten have scored their runs at above eight an over (133.33 in strike-rate terms). In ninth place on that list, sandwiched incongruously between Chris Gayle and Adam Gilchrist, sits Wriddhiman Saha.

"Batting in the powerplay suits my style of play": Wriddhiman Saha

"Batting in the powerplay suits my style of play," Saha said on the eve of Titans' Qualifier 1 against Rajasthan Royals.

"For many years I have preferred to bat in the first six overs, and go in and play a few risky shots. It helps the team, and it allows me to contribute.

Saha said in an interview on Monday

"If I can contribute in the first six overs and build a good partnership, it becomes a little easier for the batsmen who come in later. They can maybe take two-three extra balls to settle, and maybe we can put up a big score."

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Over his IPL career, Saha has a strike rate of 113.93 in the middle overs - a significant drop from his powerplay figure of 134.67. This season has followed the same template: 138.56 in the powerplay, and 101.13 in the middle overs.

Saha's game controls by the following constraints. He cannot play himself in the belief that he can make it up with a flurry of boundaries later. He bats with little fear of losing his wicket. That's because his team probably doesn't mind him losing it in the effort to maximize the powerplay. He bats, in short, like a less explosive Sunil Narine.

According to ESPNcricinfo's intent data, Saha has offered an aggressive response to 60 of the 153 balls he's faced in the powerplay this season. That's roughly 39%. Among Indian top-order batters who've scored at least 100 runs in the powerplay, only Yashasvi Jaiswal (52%) and Tripathi (42%) have looked to attack more often in this phase. Meanwhile, Prithvi Shaw sitting a few decimal points behind Saha.