Improved Defensive Technique and Determination Has Helped Suyash Prabhudessai Score Big: Goa Assistant Coach Prashant Shetty

Goa batter Suyash Prabhudessai has been in good form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. Earlier this month, he came agonisingly close to hitting a double-century for Goa against Chandigarh, falling on 197.

The right-handed batter has already hit two hundreds in three matches. The second century came against a formidable Karnataka unit where he scored 143*.

Goa coach Prashant Shetty, who has been watching Prabhudessai from close quarters, feels that the determination to score big runs is helping the 26-year-old perform at top of the order.

“He has a lot of determination of getting big runs. He’s not just satisfied with getting runs but aims at scoring big knocks. The process is absolutely perfect. Actually, he was batting at number 3 in red-ball format last year. So, just considering the balance of the team, we thought he might open. He readily accepted it and that’s how it all started,” says Shetty.

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Shetty says Prabhudessai, known for his big hitting, has worked on his defensive technique and that has given him good results so far in India’s premier domestic competition.

“I think the defence technique has been really good. For instance, the front foot defence, the judgement of the line and length especially the line outside off stump (4th or 5th stump), he has done it really well. We have known Suyash as a very good, attacking player because he is also in the IPL setup.

“But in the red-ball format, the defensive technique is also tested. So, he has worked upon it and it’s showing results. He is spending a lot of time on the pitch now. The drills have been basic like the side-arm bowling, leaving the ball and he has done it wonderfully well,” adds Shetty.

Missing out on 200

The Goa opener missed out on a double hundred against Chandigarh after he was dismissed for 197. The coach lavished praise on the right-hander for his knock and said, “I just told him that don’t worry about the three runs that you missed. You have scored 197 and should be happy about it.”

‘Arjun has been bowling well’

Another bright spot for Goa this season has been young Arjun Tendulkar. Not so much with the ball but the left-hander has been scoring crucial runs lower down the order and has a couple of fifties to his name. The wickets column is not that encouraging but coach Shetty believes that the 24-year-old has been bowling in the right areas and it’s just that the wickets haven’t come.

“Arjun has been bowling well, it’s just that he hasn’t been among the wickets this season. The wickets column is not what we expected at the start of the season. He has also been unlucky on quite a few occasions. To sum up, he has been bowling well, it’s just that the wickets are not showing. He is doing a lot of spot bowling during off days,” says Shetty.

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The renowned coach was all praise for Arjun the batter and says the youngster has been playing with a lot of maturity with the lower-order.

“His batting has really gone to the next level. Batting is more about understanding what the format demands. He has worked a lot on his defensive technique. He bats at number 7 and he makes sure that he is right there till the end. Moreover, the maturity is also there in his batting like when to hit the strokes or when to rotate the strike.”

“He played full season last year so that belief is there both with the bat and ball. Sometimes the batter batting at number 7 feels that he just has to go and throw his bat around or be ultra-aggressive. That is not how it is in Ranji Trophy. You have to go there and spend a lot of time at the pitch. At times, it is also about playing out overs. So, that tests your temperament and character,” explains Shetty.

What stands out for Shetty is how Arjun is not just going and throwing his bat at everything. The coach is very pleased with the youngster’s game awareness.

“Goa have got a good batting line up. Even the number 10 and 11 also bat. That has been our strength over the years. So, he knows that and doesn’t need to throw his bat around. There will be people who will be supporting him. Like he does when he goes into bat. He knows that he needs to support the number 6 or 5 batters. He has really matured as a cricketer now,” adds Shetty.