Powerplay recipe for success: Sanju Samson backs India's plan to kill games early

The first six-overs’ momentum often decides the course of a match and the Indian think-tank has chalked out a conscious strategy of “killing games in the Powerplay” with the Shreyas Iyer-led team pulling off their highest successful run chase in T20 cricket on Thursday.

Sanju Samson smashed a 33-ball 67, including eight fours and four sixes, to pave the way for India’s four-wicket win over New Zealand in the opening match in Christchurch.

“I don’t think we would have played a bit differently, but I think it’s (in) different phases of the game you have different approaches,” Samson told reporters.

“When you have had a really good start in the Powerplay… we actually phrase it very differently, like Powerplay’s different, middle-overs is different, and the death (overs) is different.”

“So even if you’re chasing 170 and if you’ve got (off) to a flyer, we make sure that we kill the game in the Powerplay itself. That’s what we have been doing really well in the last couple of years.”

Samson said it is an approach the team would stick with, even if it fails at times.

“That’s what we came up (with) and we try to do that every game. Sometimes it comes off nicely, sometimes it doesn’t, but we have to keep believing in ourselves and keep the team in front,” he said.

Samson said after the tour of England in June-July this year, the players were specifically instructed to keep their fitness levels high given the schedule.

“Last couple of months, we have been playing a lot of games, but to be honest, I feel very lucky that we are playing games. I would prefer playing games instead of not playing games,” Samson said on the team’s tight schedule.

India played their final T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru just five days ago. However, despite the team arriving in batches with the last one making it only on Wednesday, none of the players showed any signs of jet lag.

“After the England series, we had a very strong meeting where I think things were communicated very properly that we have a very tight schedule coming up, so make sure you do your fitness routines nicely.

“The team has put in some really proper work towards it and physically we are definitely in a great state, and mentally also. We travel business class, we stay in really big hotels, so we can’t complain,” Samson said.

“Not only me, I could see each and every player putting in that extra effort yesterday (during training on Wednesday), knowing that there is only one day (to prepare) but we will make sure everything is 100 per cent before we go and play that game,” he added.