Abhishek puts teams under immense pressure, says Head

Travis Head praised Sunrisers Hyderabad’s strong run in the IPL, highlighting key contributions from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan and Heinrich Klaasen, while Dale Steyn lauded Klaasen’s consistency and ability to perform under pressure in crucial match situations.

Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad hard-hitting opener Travis Head said it was nice to contribute to the team’s win and that two wins on the road were obviously important for his side.

Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’, Head said it was not often that a team would win five games in a row in the IPL.

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“So, we’re in a good space. It’s a hard competition to be in. When it’s your night, it’s your night. You’re not expected to score runs every game and win games every time. If you can win two or three games in this competition by yourself, you go a long way towards getting seven to eight wins and playing in the playoffs. Abhi (Abhishek Sharma) has done that a couple of times, Ishan and Klaasen have been incredible, and our bowlers have been good,” Head explained.

On his partnership with Abhishek Sharma, Head said: “I know that if spin comes on, I just give him the strike. I probably haven’t played with a better spin-hitting batter ever. I think he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen in terms of ball-striking against spin. I know in the powerplay, we saw again in this game that teams have started to go off pace against us.”

“So, it’s about getting him on strike and watching him go about his work. He puts teams under immense pressure. It’s a great partnership; we don’t have to talk too much,” he said.

JioStar expert Dale Steyn, speaking highly of Heinrich Klaasen, said: “The numbers are just insane because he’s competing with the guys at the top of the order, the opening batters. If you look at the opening batters from Sunrisers Hyderabad in particular, they get off to incredible starts and do the bulk of the run-scoring.”

“Klaasen comes out later and yet he’s still right up there as an Orange Cap contender. It’s an exceptional effort by him. Every time he comes out, he looks in total control. He looks steady, hits the ball down the ground nicely, and gets himself in,” Steyn said.

“When Klaasen wants to pull the trigger, he’s able to hit the ball anywhere. That six where he went reverse off the spinner, how? He just pulls it out in the middle of a game. Incredible hand-eye coordination, skill, and then obviously the mental side to back his ability to do it under pressure,” the former South African fast bowler said.