Aakash Chopra praised SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Travis Head for delivering a damaging century in his team’s IPL 2024 victory against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Travis Head scored 102 runs off 41 deliveries as SRH set RCB a massive 288-run mark in Bengaluru on Monday, April 15. The visitors then limited Faf du Plessis and company to 262/7, securing a 25-run victory and joining two other sides on eight points in the standings.
In a YouTube video, Chopra commended Head and Abhishek Sharma for getting SRH off to a good start. He mentioned that the former trounced a squad with no Indian in their name for a change.
“Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma only hit from both ends nowadays. A well at one end a ditch at the other, the bowlers were getting beaten up like drums from both ends. They kept hitting. My heart for once was a little relieved.”
“The relief was not because RCB were getting hit but it was the first time Head hit a team that didn’t have Indian in their name. One was an Indian team on 19th November (ODI World Cup final) and the other were the Mumbai Indians. I thought he hated the Indian name but this time he hit Bengaluru. He gave a headache as well as a heartache.”
Aakash Chopra
While Head scored 102 runs with nine fours and eight sixes, Abhishek’s 22-ball 34 had two fours and as many maximums. The partnership scored 108 runs in only 8.1 overs, laying the groundwork for a big total.
Aakash Chopra Applauds Heinrich Klaasen’s Remarkable Ability to Hit Sixes for SRH
Aakash Chopra also praised Heinrich Klaasen for capitalising on the SRH openers’ strong start.
“Abhishek Sharma was playing with him (Head). He was also hitting fours and sixes. If you felt you might get a chance to breathe a little when he got out, out came Heinrich Klaasen. Heinrich hard-hitting Klaasen – it should be taught in schools how he hits sixes.”
Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator observed that the South African wicketkeeper-batter smashed enormous sixes with flawless big-hitting technique.
“The head remains in the line of the ball, he first cocks and then uncocks his hands on the bat, and the arms are also in the line of where the ball pitches. So the bat and head are in very good positions. Minimal feet movement but maximum results. One ball went to Cubbon Park and another had to be searched in Google Maps.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra also applauded Abdul Samad for landing several hard strikes. The kid scored an unbroken 37 off only ten deliveries, including four fours and three sixes.