Okay folks, grabbing my notebook and flipping back the pages today. Decided I absolutely had to figure out how the big IPL teams consistently smash those crazy high Powerplay scores. Everyone talks about it, but what are they actually doing? Started this little investigation a few weeks ago, dead serious about cracking the code.
First step, wasted a whole weekend just watching replays. Not casually, mind you, but proper detective work. Pulled up the highest-scoring Powerplay innings from the last two seasons. Specifically hunted down matches where teams were chasing big or setting massive totals. Had my laptop, a cold drink, and a notepad – the essentials.
The Pattern Hunt
Started jotting down everything:
- Who opened the batting? Always the aggressive duo, right? Not quite. Saw teams sending out one super-aggressive guy with another who could anchor and accelerate if needed.
- Looked hard at the field placements. Right from ball one, the fielding captain would usually have three, sometimes four, guys back on the rope straight away. Leaving big gaps in the circle early. Risky, but…
- Targeting. This was the biggie. The batters weren’t just swinging wildly. Watched shot after shot. Saw them deliberately targeting those gaps behind square – fine leg, third man, or over extra cover if the in-field was pushed up there. Didn’t matter who was bowling, if there was space, they went for it.
- The running! Man, the running between wickets was intense. Even when they blocked or mishit slightly, they were sprinting like mad for singles. Kept the scoreboard ticking constantly, no dot-ball pressure buildup.
Next weekend, roped in a couple mates at the local club nets. Told ’em, “Right, we’re simulating a Powerplay.” Drew rough field positions on a whiteboard showing the gaps I’d noted.
Time to practice what I preached. Took strike. My plan? Target the leg side or behind square off the first few balls, especially if the bowler pitched anywhere near my legs. Didn’t go aerial straightaway, focused on placement into those gaps for boundaries or forcing hard runs. If the bowler adjusted and plugged the leg side? Immediately switched focus – saw the point region open once? Drove hard through there. Had my buddy down the other end under strict orders: run hard, convert every possible single, make them chase us.
Facing the Music (Literally)
Then came the real test: Saturday practice game. Our regular opener was injured, so I volunteered to open, aiming to use this new plan. Nervous as heck!
- First over, medium pacer. First ball, a fraction short on leg stump. Didn’t try to smash it downtown, just angled the face and guided it fine past short fine leg. Boundary. Second ball? Pitched up wide outside off. Could have swung wildly. Didn’t. Punched it deliberately hard square through the off side gap they left. Four more.
- Ran like crazy. Mistimed a flick? Shouted “Yes!” instantly and sprinted. Partner was on the same page. We turned ones into twos a couple of times just by pure hustle.
- Faced their spinner in the 4th over. Normally I’d be cautious. Not today. Saw deep midwicket back, but a huge gap inside the ring straight. Went down on one knee and swept hard, not for a six, just for a powerful boundary through that vacant area. Made them bring that fielder up, creating space elsewhere.
By the end of the Powerplay, we were sitting on 62 for no loss. Felt unreal! Wasn’t tons of gigantic sixes, just relentless pressure through finding the gaps and running hard. Partner got 28, I ended with 34, mostly fours and doubles/singles.
So What’s The Secret?
Looking back at my scribbled notes and that crazy Saturday:
- Intelligent Aggression: Not blind swinging, but picking gaps deliberately based on the field set.
- Exploiting the Rules: Only two fielders out? Target those boundary areas hard, especially behind square.
- Run Till You Puke: Seriously, hustle for every run. Turn 1s into 2s, 2s into 3s. Keep that strike rotating constantly, build pressure with the running, not just boundaries.
- Partnership Dynamic: One guy going all-out, the other supporting smartly, but both focused on running hard and capitalizing on bad balls. Constant communication is key.
The key isn’t some magic trick, it’s a plan: See the gap, hit the gap, run hard. Do it relentlessly for six overs. Top teams practice this relentlessly until it’s instinct. Gave me a whole new appreciation for how deliberate that early carnage really is. Gonna keep working on those gap-finding shots, my legs still hurt from all that running!
