On a surface that \u201cwas slow\u201d and produced occasional low balls and big turners, Kiran chose attrition over aggression, trusting his defence and focussing on occupying the crease for long periods rather than chasing runs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe wicket was a bit tricky even when we were bowling,\u201d Kiran said after the day\u2019s play. \u201cOur plan was simple\u2014the balls on the stump line weren\u2019t turning much, so if we trusted our defence and prolonged the innings, the runs would come automatically.\u201d<\/p>\n
That clarity of approach shaped his innings. Kiran explained that the goal was to maintain discipline over long stretches and carry the innings over by over. He added 92 runs for the seventh wicket with left-hander Manav Parakh (47), helping Tamil Nadu overhaul Maharashtra\u2019s 238 and end the day on 309 for eight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea was to sustain that discipline over by over, for as many sessions as possible. That\u2019s what I tried to execute every ball. My partner and I kept talking about the same thing\u2014defend the balls on the stumps, trust the defence, and keep batting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
It was important, he said, to reset mentally after each ball. \u201cIf you keep thinking that the ball is turning, you start worrying that one will take the edge. Then you tend to play shots you don\u2019t need to and get out. The idea was to reset after every ball, even if one beat the bat.<\/p>\n
READ: Sitanshu Kotak on India\u2019s T20 World Cup win \u2014 Players always put the team first and that made the difference<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Kiran\u2019s composed innings underlined a productive season in which he has emerged as Tamil Nadu\u2019s leading run-scorer with 634 runs in 13 innings at an average of 52.83, including two hundreds. He said a refined batting process was key to his prolific season.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old, playing his first season at the Under-23 level, said valuable lessons from last season\u2019s Cooch Behar Trophy (U-19) and his time in the TNCA first division league, where he plays for MRC-A, helped shape his process.<\/p>\n \u201cEarlier, I would just watch the ball and play and get 20s and 30s, but not make it big. To sustain that approach for a prolonged period, I realised I needed a process. I brought in a mindset that I have to bat for maximum overs.<\/p>\n \u201cInstead of going in wanting to hit a hundred, if you bat for 50\u201360 overs, a hundred becomes a byproduct. Runs will come in phases. Even if they don\u2019t come for ten overs, they will in the next ten. Small adjustments like that helped me in a major way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n While he has made a strong impression in red-ball cricket, Kiran insists he is equally passionate about white-ball formats. His immediate ambition is to break into the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).<\/p>\n