Prabhsimran Singh, the Punjab Kings opener, has demonstrated a shift in his batting approach during the current Indian Premier League season. Known previously for power hitting in the early overs, he has shown an ability to temper his instincts and build innings based on match conditions.
Against Kolkata Knight Riders, Prabhsimran Singh scored 83 runs off 49 balls on a pitch described as slow. He played a notable switch-hit off Sunil Narine.
Earlier in the season, Prabhsimran Singh struggled with a slow start against Gujarat Titans, scoring five runs off eight balls before his dismissal. His recent performance against Kolkata Knight Riders shows an adaptation to absorbing deliveries on a tricky surface before increasing his scoring rate.
Former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden commented on Prabhsimran Singh's power hitting following his innings against Lucknow Super Giants. Prabhsimran Singh scored 91 runs off 48 balls in that match, contributing to Punjab's total of 236 runs for five wickets. Matthew Hayden compared his ability to hit sixes to a young MS Dhoni from 2010.
Prabhsimran Singh was acquired by Punjab Kings in the 2019 IPL auction for INR 4.8 crore based on his batting potential, despite lacking senior representative T20 experience. The team has continued to back him.
James Hopes, Punjab Kings' fast-bowling coach, noted Prabhsimran Singh practices unorthodox shots frequently. He mentioned the team was not surprised by the switch-hit against Kolkata Knight Riders, stating it creates unprotected areas on the field for bowlers like Sunil Narine.
Wasim Jaffer, who has worked with Prabhsimran Singh at Punjab Kings and in domestic cricket for Punjab, noted the batter's growth into a more complete T20 player. He believes Prabhsimran Singh is selecting better deliveries to attack and converting starts into larger scores.
Prabhsimran Singh acknowledged the shift in his approach, stating he aims to stay at the crease longer and convert starts beyond quick 20s and 30s. He credited the mental adjustment for his improved consistency this season.
He has exceeded 400 runs this IPL season, making it his most productive. Prior to the IPL, Prabhsimran Singh scored three consecutive hundreds in the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy, including 150 not out against Mumbai.
The Punjab Kings opener could feature prominently in upcoming matches, including one against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk.
"He has got great power. Back in 2010, there was a young MS Dhoni who was launching balls in the last over of the day. Prabhsimran has got similar sort of attributes," Matthew Hayden said.
