AHMEDABAD, INDIA – NOVEMBER 19: Travis Head of Australia celebrates his century during the ICC Men’s … [+]
Australian opener Travis Head says his excellent form in the Indian Premier League is helping him maintain a good mindset ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, but it does not guarantee anything in the West Indies.
Head has been unstoppable for Sunrisers Hyderabad this season, having scored 533 runs in 11 matches at an average of 53.30 and a strike rate of 201.89.
The 30-year-old scored an unbeaten 89 off just 30 balls for his team in Wednesday’s home game where they defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 10 wickets with 62 balls to spare.
The Australian left-hander impressed the home crowd with eight sixes and eight fours, helping his team to a quick victory. They are third in the league standings.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Travis Head smashed 89 runs off 30 balls in 10-wicket victory over … [+]
Head’s explosive batting kept him third among the tournament’s highest run-scorers, behind only former Indian captain Virat Kohli (542 runs) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (541).
“Whenever you’re playing, you want to be as consistent as possible, you want to run,” Head told reporters after Wednesday’s win.
“It’s good to be running, it’s good to be playing well [but] this will not guarantee anything in the West Indies,” he added, referring to the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the United States and the Caribbean.
“But this gives me the best chance of being in a really good mindset [and] working hard in training.”
Head, whose century helped Australia beat India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, hopes to turn tracks in the June 1-29 World Cup, unlike the flat tracks he faces in the IPL on Indian soil.
“I think we will face some upsets in the Caribbean, and the wickets could get tougher as the tournament progresses,” he said.
“So I’m really pleased with the way I was able to play spin tonight, and the things I’ve been working on in training are working somewhat at the moment. But I’m trying to stay relaxed, like I have the last few years, and be ready to go.”
KOLKATA, INDIA – NOVEMBER 16: Travis Head of Australia poses for a photo while holding the Player of … [+]
Head said he is trying to maximize his performance during the powerplay and the batsman proved this during Wednesday’s victory where he and his partner Abhishek Sharma hit 107 runs in the six-over spell.
“Over the last 12 months of being back in the Australian squad, this is how they wanted me to play and I’m not trying to change anything, just trying to maximize that power,” Head said.
“It won’t always work, but I’ll try to be as consistent as possible, give myself the best opportunity and hopefully do my part for the team.”
Sunrisers Hyderabad captain and Head’s Australian teammate Pat Cummins was delighted with his extraordinary display.
“It certainly doesn’t surprise me anymore,” Cummins said. “He’s been like that the last few years. He may not be super conventional, but he has a great eye, hits the middle of the stick a lot and is having a wonderful tournament.”
Australia open their T20 World Cup campaign against Oman in Barbados on June 5, before Group B games against England, Namibia and Scotland.
