Weaving through his troubles

IPL uncapped player Shahrukh Khan aims to maximize potential with improved batting against spin and impressive all-round performance.

Over the last four years, M. Shahrukh Khan has been one of the most sought-after names in the IPL, securing megabuck deals despite being an uncapped player. The 29-year-old is known for his big-hitting capabilities down the order which teams value immensely. With the mega auction not far away, this year could be pivotal for the Tamil Nadu player as it could set the tone for the next three years of his career.

After a sub-par domestic season for TN in the white-ball tournaments last year, Shahrukh found a new home at Gujarat Titans in the IPL this year. He scored 127 runs at a healthy strike rate of 169.33, including a maiden IPL half-century, and the all-rounder feels the stint at the Titans has helped him evolve into a better batter.

Cast in the role of a finisher for Punjab Kings (2021-2023) and Gujarat Titans this year, Shahrukh’s IPL numbers might not put him in the spotlight, considering he walks in as the innings approaches its climax and is expected to tee off from the get-go.

But looking under the hood, there is a case to be made that the swashbuckling batter has given a reasonable account of himself in the last two years of India’s premier cricketing context, striking at a brisk pace. At the same time, there have been some shortcomings, indicating Shahrukh has yet to maximise his potential.

While he has shown great ability to clear the ropes effortlessly, especially against pacers in the death overs, he has found it hard to replicate the same against the spinners. But this year, he believed he has addressed it better and become a more complete batter.

“During the camp before the tournament, I worked hard on my game against spinners. Vikram Solanki and Mithun Manhas helped me improve, and it has opened up more scoring opportunities for me,” said Shahrukh in a chat with The Hindu

According to him, a minor technical change has enormously impacted his game. “Vikram sir asked me to have a forward press when batting against the spinners. It has helped me play off the front and back foot, opening up the possibility of playing the cut and pull shots.