Master Your Cricket IQ: Mental Game & Tactical Training
Cricket is played between the ears. I help you build the mindset, tactical awareness, and concentration needed to handle pressure and make smarter decisions on the field.
This is an advanced batting drill with Piyush, a district player from Maharashtra. We are working on improving his front shoulder alignment, upper body reach, and body stability to ensure he can play powerful drives with a solid, side-on technique.
Here, I'm working with Aaheli from West Bengal and Diya from Orissa, two talented young players. This advanced drill is designed to improve their reaction time, footwork, and bat speed, while also building their fitness and competitive spirit.
This drill focuses on improving the batsman's footwork and the reach of their upper body. By using resistance bands, I encourage the player to extend fully and maintain a strong, stable base, which is crucial for playing powerful drives.
This clip shows a player working on his on-drive. The focus is on getting the head over the ball and driving through the line, a fundamental skill for any top-order batsman. A full explanation of the technique is coming soon.
Here, I'm working with two talented young players, Yaduveer and Samar, on a competitive high-intensity drill. The goal is to improve their reaction time, footwork, and body setup for facing fast bowling, all while building their competitive mindset.
In this session with Suranjan from Nepal, we are working on power hitting. I'm correcting his hand extension and lower body stability, explaining that a strong, locked base is essential for generating the force needed to hit long sixes.
Chandu, a dedicated and cheerful player from Nepal, is heading back to play in his district league. It was a pleasure training him, and I wish him all the best for his upcoming matches.
This hand extension drill is crucial for generating power and reach in your shots. By practicing the full range of motion, from a low starting point to a complete follow-through, players learn to use their entire body to drive the ball effectively.
About Cricketing IQ: The Mental Game
Mental strength is not just about staying positive, it is about understanding why you react the way you do under pressure. In my sessions, we look at game footage to identify where you are losing focus, then we run high intensity 'thakaan ke baad' (after fatigue) drills to force your brain to keep working accurately when your body is tired, just like it would in the final overs of a real match.
Mental toughness is just as trainable as your cover drive. Many talented players have the right technique but fail to perform because they do not read the game well. My approach starts with dissecting your game via detailed video analysis. We look for patterns. Are you playing across the line when the ball is new? Do you lose focus after a dot ball? Are you guessing the line and length instead of watching the ball?
Once we find the root cause, I design sessions that mimic game day intensity. We do not just hit balls. We simulate match scenarios where you have to make a critical call: whether to defend, to rotate the strike, or to attack. I put you in high pressure situations, often when your body is already exhausted from fitness drills, to see how your brain functions when you are not fresh.
The goal is to build that 'cricketing brain' so you react instinctively. Whether you are a young player aiming for your first district selection or a senior cricketer hitting a plateau, we work on your shot selection, field reading, and stamina based concentration. We focus on how to build an innings, how to manage your nerves, and how to stay ahead of the bowler by predicting their next move. This is about making you a thinker, not just a hitter.
SP Yadav
I am SP Yadav, an ICC Level-3 coach with a focus on building smart, thinking players. I believe in fixing the root cause, not just putting a bandage on it, whether that is your physical technique or your mental approach.
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