Akeal Hosein, West Indies spinner for the Chennai Super Kings, is a tweaker who bowls most of his overs during the powerplay. To succeed in the harshest part of the game, he needs both mental toughness and technique.
There is very little room for error and a lot of pressure because there are only two fielders in the deep throughout the opening six overs.
Hosein, though, flourishes in that setting full of pressure. In their IPL match in New Delhi on Tuesday, the left-arm spinner made a comeback with economical figures of 3-0-15-1 in the powerplay, and he was instrumental in his team’s eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals.
“You need both of them (skill and mental toughness). Especially when you come upon pitches that aren’t conducive to spin and it’s just about being disciplined as well,” he said.
“Having two fielders out in the power play. It’s not a job that you can go searching for wickets or you can be too greedy. It’s just about sticking to the plan,” he explained.
An in-form KL Rahul was foxed by the West Indies spinner when he stepped out to smash him for an inside out six, but Hosein got the crucial wicket.
CSK has won more games since Hosein was added to the playing eleven after not being selected in the tournament’s first round. He was able to dominate the batters on Tuesday when the pitch gave him some assistance.
Hosein was questioned about his formula for powerplay success following the victory over DC.
“…it’s a bit scripted because you only have two guys out so it’s just about being disciplined and trying to do the job for the team. At the end of the day if you don’t get wickets and you bowl economically in the power play, that’s a damn good job you’ve done for the team,” PTI quoted Hosein as saying.
In five games, he has claimed seven wickets at a remarkable economy rate of 7.25.
Hosein claims that preparing for high-pressure scenarios keeps him in the moment because he is well aware that the batter is only a few hits away from putting the pressure back on him.
“I think homework is very important. You want to have that head-start when you come up against whichever batter you’re going to face. And like I say it’s just about making assessments as quickly as possible.
“You might come up on a pitch that is spinning. You might come up against one that isn’t spinning. Thankfully I can spin the ball. So it’s just about picking which deliveries will give you the most success on a particular day and against a particular batter,” said Hosein.
Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad determined that he should get rid of Rahul’s initial ball from the opposite end. After the powerplay, Noor Ahmad replaced Hosein and continued to put pressure on DC batters.
“Getting the opportunity to bowl first for me is just about again making that assessment as quickly as possible and then passing on that information to Noor or even to the seamers as well if it was a bit of spin or if it’s gripping or whatever the case is.
“So conversations with myself and Noor have been fantastic. Really happy for him that he’s getting some success,” he added.
