Former South African captain and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) legend AB de Villiers has shared his tactical blueprint for stopping Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) damaging opening duo, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
IPL 2025: AB de Villiers’ blueprint
Talking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers emphasised the significance of well-planned discipline placements, exact bowling methods, and an surprising wildcard in RCB’s lineup to counter the pair’s aggressive batting strategy. De Villiers began by acknowledging the dominance of the duo, saying, “What did everybody name them? They received a nickname, ‘TravShek,’. I feel they’ve earned the suitable to get a nickname as a result of these two have been an unbelievable opening partnership for SRH over the previous couple of years. Completely phenomenal,” He famous that they’ve persistently supplied SRH with explosive begins and have turn into a nightmare for opposition bowlers.
SRH’s run-machine Travis Head’s weak point
De Villiers emphasised Head’s wrestle in opposition to short-pitched deliveries and the way bowlers ought to problem him with aggressive lengths. “What I might do is absolutely plan two-length bowling to him. I’d stand up there and never draw back from throwing yorkers on the stumps but in addition testing him on the pinnacle with the suitable discipline setup,” De Villiers defined.
He additional elaborated on discipline placement, saying, “I wouldn’t have a 3rd man again. As an alternative, I’d carry my third man up whereas protecting my advantageous leg and deep sq. leg again. That means, I can bluff and make him suppose, ‘What’s coming subsequent? A yorker? A tough size? A bouncer?’” His technique revolved round denying Head easy accessibility to his favourite off-side strokes by cramping him up and forcing him into errors.
“I wouldn’t thoughts if he hit me over brief third man, however I gained’t give him free runs in his sturdy zones. I might cramp him up, use body-line bowling, combine it up with good yorkers and well-directed bouncers, and set two fielders deep on the leg aspect. That might be my recreation plan in opposition to him,” the previous RCB batter added.
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Explosive batter Abhishek Sharma’s weak point
When addressing Abhishek Sharma, de Villiers famous that his greatest energy lies in his off-side stroke play. He suggested bowlers to disclaim him width and power him to play in uncomfortable areas. “Abhishek could be very sturdy by means of the off-side, so that you don’t need to give him room to free his arms. The important thing to stopping him is to cramp him up and guarantee he doesn’t get straightforward width to capitalize on,” the 41-year-old stated.
Abhishek, identified for his aggressive strategy, may be susceptible to intelligent bowling modifications. De Villiers prompt that bowlers combine up their deliveries, stay unpredictable, and stop him from moving into rhythm.
The surprising X-factor in opposition to SRH’s openers
Surprisingly, De Villiers recognized RCB’s left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya as a wildcard choice to dismiss both Head or Abhishek early. Whereas typical knowledge suggests not utilizing a left-arm spinner in opposition to two left-handed batters within the powerplay, de Villiers believed Krunal’s intelligence may outsmart the aggressive openers.
“I do know folks will say that bowling a left-arm spinner to a left-hand batter within the powerplay, with solely two fielders outdoors the ring, is dangerous. However Krunal is so good that he can outthink considered one of these two guys, not less than. And that’s all he must do—simply break the partnership. When you get considered one of them out, the opposite has to start out a brand new partnership, and that’s whenever you shift the momentum in your favor,” he defined.
De Villiers additional identified that ego may play a task in bringing about Head or Abhishek’s downfall. De Villiers highlighted how Head and Abhishek’s aggressive mindset may backfire if RCB deploys a bowler like Krunal on the proper time. By forcing them to take dangers, Krunal may create a chance for a breakthrough.
“I feel Travis Head will come out and play with ego, and Abhishek Sharma as effectively. If Krunal is available in considering that they’re going to try to rating 20+ runs in that over, he simply wants to stay calm and bowl neatly. Towards all the chances, I consider he’s the man who can get considered one of them out,” the ex- South Africa captain said.
RCB’s finest weapon with the brand new ball
Whereas De Villiers was assured that Krunal may present a tactical edge, he additionally backed RCB’s premier pacer Josh Hazlewood as the most effective bowler to get SRH’s openers out early. He emphasised the significance of carrying an attacking discipline when Hazlewood is bowling.
“Clearly, Josh Hazlewood is likely one of the finest new-ball bowlers on the earth. He can get anybody out with the brand new ball, and in opposition to Head and Abhishek, you need to carry a slip—maybe even two—as a result of an edge will certainly come sooner or later,” De Villiers prompt.
Hazlewood’s capability to bowl constant lengths, extract bounce, and transfer the ball may very well be important in opposition to Head and Abhishek, preferring attacking from the beginning. De Villiers believed that an early breakthrough would put rapid stress on SRH’s center order, shifting the sport in RCB’s favour.
“That will likely be my considering—good, straight strains to Head, no width for Abhishek, and making them uncomfortable. If we are able to break their partnership, then we disrupt SRH’s recreation plan fully. That’s the important thing,” De Villiers concluded.
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