JOIN USCM Gautam is increasingly making it his season. After notching up a impressive 130 not out under pressure against Tamil Nadu to help Karnataka earn innings lead last month, the right-hander came up with his career best 257 on Saturday against Vidarbha in the ongoing Group B Ranji Trophy tie here.
The wicketkeeper-batsman’s run wears little resemblance to his form the previous season which yielded him just 237 runs in 11 innings at 23.70 with a highest of 63.
The 26-year-old crossed that total with one innings of substance that has put Karnataka in driver’s seat. The highest run-getter of the season for Karnataka by some distance with 586 in nine innings at a staggering average of 97.66, Gautam attributes the turnaround in his fortunes to a change in his technique.
“There was a technical issue last season,” pointed out Gautam after the day’s play. “My head was falling over... If you notice, I was playing around my front pad and was trapped leg before in eight out of 10 innings. In the off-season, I watched my videos closely and worked hard both on my technique and on my mental approach. I am happy it is paying off this season.”
Gautam rated his ton against Tamil Nadu, an innings that helped Karnataka overhaul Tamil Nadu’s 538 for four declared along with Ganesh Satish’s 200 not out, as more satisfying. “That was a better knock because it came under great pressure. But this was special too because I had been promoted up the order and I wanted to play till the end.”
Gautam said he didn’t have to make any major preparations to bat higher up the order.
“It’s where I bat for my club and my bank. It’s not a new position for me, and I have always wanted to bat at No 4 or No 5. At No 4, I had more time to bat and I wanted to make the most of it. It was very satisfying, I enjoyed myself and it was my first double hundred in any form of cricket. I would love to bat at No 4 on a long-term basis if the team wants me to,” he remarked.