“We have a solid team dynamic, and as a middle-order batter in T20 cricket, it’s unrealistic to expect to finish every game. If that’s your expectation, it makes things overly challenging. We just aim to play and enjoy the game,” David shared during a select media event. “A significant aspect of the IPL is learning not to put undue pressure on yourself and to avoid harsh self-judgment after a failure,” he added.
David credited the RCB top order for alleviating pressure from the lower-middle order, stating their strong performances have given finishers like Romario Shepherd and Jitesh Sharma the freedom to play more aggressively.
He expressed immense gratitude towards the RCB top order for making life easier for late-order batters like himself, Romario Shepherd, and Jitesh Sharma. “As a middle-order batter, you essentially need to solve problems. We’re fortunate to have an outstanding top order that consistently sets us up well. Most of the time, I’m just putting together the finishing touches, and with Jitesh and Romario alongside me, that definitely eases our pressure,” he noted.
David emphasized drawing from his years of experience playing in the middle order and focused on net sessions to be effective in critical moments. “Luckily, I’ve spent my entire career batting in the middle order, so I’ve learned to understand certain risks. However, during practice, it’s vital to put in the volume of balls because you don’t always get the opportunity to bat in matches.
“You need to master hitting yorkers and find ways to score against various types of bowling. Having played for an extended period, you start to decipher the patterns bowlers use to try and thwart you.
“Now they possess many tools in their arsenal, and you’ll often see summaries on TV outlining where bowlers can target and how they analyze where batters score quickly and their vulnerabilities. Building those foundations certainly becomes your strengths,” he said.
The focused practice sessions have also helped the Australian batter improve against spin, which he believes has significantly contributed to his success in the IPL.
“I’ve always felt more comfortable facing spin compared to pace, but coming to India presents a challenge when facing top spin bowlers in such a competitive setting. It’s demanding, especially in the role I fulfil, where I typically bat in the last few overs against the best leg-spinners or the most aggressive spinners the opposition has.
“I realized I wasn’t satisfied with my performance against spin and my approach wasn’t yielding results, so I had a discussion with my coach back home (Jim Allenby) about how I wanted to confront spin and explored potential technical adjustments.
“I saw positive outcomes early on after making those adjustments, providing clear evidence that the changes we implemented were beneficial,” he explained.
In addition to the technical adjustments, David believes that applying pressure on a spinner is the best strategy when facing slow bowlers.
“I find that I perform best when relying on my instincts. If the bowler delivers a perfect ball, I approach it respectfully, but if they miss their line, I aim to capitalize on it, putting pressure on them.
“Spin bowling becomes challenging under pressure; if a bowler faces a hesitant batter, they can dictate the pace and spin the ball in various ways.
“However, if they miss the length slightly and the batter sends the ball flying into the stands, that’s a formidable situation for the bowler, so it’s essential to exert that pressure,” he added.
(With PTI inputs)
