Exclusive Interview: KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya Alter Their Bats Ahead Of ODI World Cup 2023

The Cricket World Cup 2023 is starting tomorrow. In the tournament's opening match, the current champions, England, will face the last edition's runners-up, New Zealand, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, Team India will play their first match in the World Cup against Australia on October 8th in Chennai. Some of India's star batsmen, including Lokesh Rahul and Hardik Pandya, have made changes to their bats to make an impact in the tournament. In an exclusive converation with Gujarati Jagran, Paras Anand, co-founder of Sanspareils Greenlands (SG) spoke about it at length.

Lokesh Rahul's Bat Adjustment:
According to Paras Anand, co-founder of Sanspareils Greenlands (SG), Lokesh Rahul used to open in all three formats of the game. However, now he plays in the middle order, so he has slightly increased the weight of his bat. Previously, his bat weighed 1150 grams, but now it has been increased to 1175 grams. The size of his bat has remained the same; only a minor adjustment has been made in its weight.

Hardik Pandya's Bat Adjustment:
Paras Anand mentioned that India's vice-captain, Hardik Pandya, has also made changes to his bat, but it's the opposite of Rahul's adjustment. This means that he has reduced the weight of his bat. Previously, Hardik used a bat that weighed 1220 grams, but now he is using one that weighs 1185 grams. This change is attributed to Hardik's recent focus on T20 cricket, where he often needs to hit big shots. However, in ODIs, he might need to work on building innings if early wickets fall, hence the use of a slightly lighter bat with more weight in the upper part for better balance.

Ishan Kishan's Consistency:
Paras Anand also mentioned that Ishan Kishan's approach to the game has been consistent for the past three years. Even in this World Cup, he will continue to use the same type of bat that has brought him success. The weight of his bat is 1140 grams, and he has been using a lightweight bat for some time now.

Ravichandran Ashwin's Adaptation for Hard Hitting:
All-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who specializes in spin bowling, made a last-minute entry into the Indian World Cup team. He has made adjustments to his bat to better handle hitting big shots. The weight of his bat is 1180 grams.

Bats of Indian Bowlers:
Paras Anand emphasized that the responsibility to perform well with the ball and win matches in the World Cup rests on bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj. While they are committed to delivering when needed, their bat weights range from 1170 grams to 1180 grams, similar to Rahul's and Ashwin's bats.

Rashid Khan Follows Hardik Pandya in Bat Weight:
Afghanistan's star all-rounder, Rashid Khan, follows a similar bat weight to Hardik Pandya in the range of 1185 grams. Both Rashid and Hardik play for Gujarat Titans in the IPL and share the captaincy role.

Liam Livingstone's Powerful Bat:
Several top England players, including Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, and Mark Wood, use SG bats. Liam Livingstone is known for his hard-hitting style, and his bat weighs 1200 grams.

Sachin Tendulkar's Heaviest Bat:
Paras Anand mentioned that Sachin Tendulkar's bat remains the heaviest ever used. Sachin's bat weighed 1330 grams. However, after a tennis elbow injury, he reduced the weight to 1270 grams. To date, no other cricketer has used a heavier bat than Sachin.

Bat Prices:
Paras Anand also discussed the prices of cricket bats. He mentioned that the price of SG bats in the market ranges from 30,000 to 40,000 INR after discounts. He cited the example of the SG 90 Years Anniversary Cricket Bat, released in 2021, which was priced at 90,000 INR, making it one of the most expensive bats ever.