Andre Russell, one of the most destructive batters in international cricket, plays for the Deccan Gladiators, and coach Mushtaq Ahmed noted that impact players like him need as much time as possible in the middle to make a good impact on the game.
The former Pakistani spinner added, speaking outside of the sixth season of Abu Dhabi T10, "You must send Andre Russell in early because he possesses the X-factor. I forced him to open the batting last year as well, and this time I spoke with him and informed him that he has complete freedom to do whatever he needs to. In T10 or T20 cricket, you must make the difficult choices and trust that your ideas will succeed. And I'm happy with how nicely our choices have turned out thus far."
The former leg-break bowler added that practising your fundamentals is one of the most crucial aspects of any sport, regardless of the format. "You must adhere to your fundamentals and play the ball fairly. You lose focus on the fundamentals once you begin to consider the outcome. It is my responsibility as a coach to instruct the players to maintain their focus and form while continuing to play cricket shots."
Even if there are a few dot balls, keep in mind that a few strong hits or strong overs will put you back in the game.
The coach of the Deccan Gladiators also mentioned the importance of all-rounders in the shorter versions of the game. "Even a guy like David Wiese, who can bat, bowl, and field, can be quite dangerous in such brief competitions as Hardik Pandya can be. These players have the potential to win games."
When asked how to deal with the powerful hitters, Ahmed responded, "Wickets, in a format like T10, are the key. Examples include Zahir Khan and Tabraiz Shamsi. A few effective deliveries will keep you in the game and add pressure, which will allow you to take wickets later on. In essence, the player's role must be very obvious."
Because of the limited time, Ahmed believes that T10 is the most difficult format. He remarked, "In T10 there is no time, and you can't slow down at all."
Technically sound player Virat Kohli from India, would he perform well in T10, or does the format require more players with the ability to improvise on the fly? Ahmed said, "In T10 cricket, both types of players can be successful. Moeen Ali is one illustration of a cricket player who makes good shots. The duties ought to be obvious. Nicholas Pooran scored a flurry of goals before regaining the initiative. The most crucial thing is to know exactly who is responsible for what."
"This is a temperament game. Who has the best disposition as a coach must be considered. Players like Andre Russell are needed when you need someone to pass the time while other times you need someone to wait their turn."
The Deccan Gladiators' coach remarked while discussing how to deal with bowlers like Rashid Khan who are particularly dangerous: "In T10 or T20 cricket, you must play the ball based on its merit and not the bowler. Rashid is not being played; instead, you are facing the ball. I believe the batter should first look to see the ball before striking it."