Hetmyer has been a great addition to Rajasthan Royals and has been the man in form. He has been in terrific form this IPL and once again showed how to maintain one’s temperament and finish off games.
We take a look at three reasons why Shimron Hetmyer is currently the best finisher in T20 cricket:
3 A complete batter
Unlike the likes of Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer is a more complete batter. He started his career for the West Indies in the top order and scored consistent runs. He has a more rounded game and is adept at handling pressure scenarios. There are no seemingly glaring glitches in his batting and these traits come to the fore when he gauges conditions during the final few overs.
The fact that he can pick and choose his moments and bowlers to attack and execute his plans without any fuss makes him one of the best finishers in the shortest format in the world currently.
2 Wide range of strokes
Shimron Hetmyer loves the wild slog over deep mid-wicket. He also loves the slap down the ground, but then, he is also equally adept at accessing the off side as he generally stays towards the leg side of the ball.
These wide strokes make him an all-round package – a batter that is not a one-trick pony and hence, bowlers generally find it difficult bowling to him.
Royals were struggling to find any momentum in the chase against the Gujarat Titans when Sanju Samson decided to change the tide. He smashed three sixes off Rashid Khan. Hetmyer was not willing to take a step back as he smacked Alzarri Joseph for a four and a six and Rajasthan were back in the game.
1 Solid temperament
Shimron Hetmyer is an excitable character – he seems to live every moment when out in the field. However, there is a sense of calm when he is trying to close out the innings. There is a lot of belief, and he follows his process. He picks his bowlers and commits to the cause. After his superb knock against the Gujarat Titans, he revealed how he practices to excel in these tight situations.
“It always helps to practice with the mindset that you’re a couple of wickets down and you have to get say 100 runs probably in eight overs. You just try to program your mind that way, and so far it’s working,” he said after the match.
The Lucknow Super Giants joined Rajasthan Royals at the top of the Indian Premier League points table after beating the Jaipur-team by 10 runs on Wednesday.
The Royals, playing for the first time in four years at their home ground in Jaipur, faltered in their chase of 155 on a difficult pitch. The two teams are tied on eight points with the Royals in first place due to a better net run rate.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler began the chase well putting up 87 runs for the first wicket in 11 overs. Needing 68 runs to win in nine overs, the Royals lost Jaiswal, Buttler, captain Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer for just 17 runs in four overs.