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Among the many players who shone in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season was young Vidarbha batter Atharva Taide, who turned out for Punjab Kings in the second half of the campaign. He went on to score 186 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 144.19 and batted as high as no. three but mainly played the role of a finisher.
The 23-year-old especially spoke highly of former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and revealed that he it eas his backing that made Taide a good batter. “Brad Haddin played a huge role in me getting a chance this season. He always backed me. He told me how I bat is perfect for PBKS, and everybody around me can play their shots. I have to be that one guy who can control & anchor the innings," Taide said while speaking with sports commentator Dr. Yash Kashikar on his chat show Say Yash To Sports.
PBKS had a strong batting lineup this season with the likes of power-hitters like Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan and Sam Curran, with Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the batting as well. Taide was used the best perhaps in Punjab's second-last match of the season against Delhi Capitals.
Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Shikhar Dhawan were sent back to the pavilion early, and the onus was on Taide’s shoulders to get his team back into the game to allow the power hitters to chase down the huge target of 214 in Dharamsala. Taide scored 55 (42) before he was made to retire out as Punjab scored 70 in the last 5 overs but just fell short of the target.
“He told me that when I start my innings in nets, I have to start as if I am starting in a game. That’s where you build your habits. Because in IPL you don’t get a lot of net sessions. There is a lot of travelling. So you play on different pitches. So one game you play in Delhi, and the next game you are playing in Dharamshala,” Taide said.
“So two contrasting wickets, where the bounce and pace are different. You have to adapt in only one net session. So you have to bat in the nets as if you are batting in a match, and can’t go and bash everything. You have to challenge yourself as if you are batting in a game. That’s what I’ll keep with myself wherever I’ll go, whichever format I will play. Because that’s how I am going to get better as a player,” he concluded.
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