R. Vivek has been something of a revelation this season of Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). His 249 runs from eight games have propelled Dindigul Dragons into its maiden TNPL final. But it isn’t the runs but the pace at which the right-hander has scored them that has made heads turn.
The 27-year-old has hammered 17 boundaries and 21 sixes at a breathtaking strike-rate of 216.52. Against the Siechem Madurai Panthers in the semifinal, he racked up a half-century off just 24 balls, helping Dragons to an imposing — and eventually match-winning — target of 204.
READ| Flair and focus — the R. Vivek story
But Dragons’ coach M. Venkataramana, among the first few to spot Vivek’s talent, isn’t rushing to decree the Salem-born batsman as a ‘complete’ cricketer, yet.
“He’s (Vivek) a work in progress. All the adjustments to his technique are targeted toward the shorter version. He still has a lot to learn and I want him to graduate from T20 to the duration game (ODI and first-class cricket). That exposure will give him further insights into his game,” Venkataramana told Sportstar .
Vivek plied his trade with the MRC-A side in the TNCA second division last year and his exploits there with the bat continue to impress his coach.
“He has been doing really well over the past three years. His performance in each edition of TNPL has been quite fantastic — he has delivered in crunch situations.
“As a matter of fact, I was expecting at least a trial-call for him ahead of this year's IPL. But he has been an impact player for Dindigul Dragons this season, so expect people to keep an eye out for him,” Venkataramana points out.
About Vivek’s training during the course of the tournament, Venkataramana said, “We do a lot of drop ball drills, power - hitting while simultaneously trying to improve the range of his shots.
“The idea is to get into a good position, setting up a proper base, while going towards the target area. He has made a few adjustments per his convenience, so it’s been working for him this tournament.”
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