Karan Sharma on Pravin Amre training: 298 runs and breaking muscle memory
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kashi Rudras captain Karan Sharma has revealed how a ten-day training stint under veteran batting coach and former India batter Pravin Amre in Mumbai transformed his power-hitting and timing ahead of the current season. Sharma, who leads the run-scoring charts with 298 runs in nine games at an average of 37.25 and a strike-rate of 146.8, admitted the process of overhauling years of ingrained batting habits was as much a mental battle as a physical one.
The Decision to Train Under Amre
Sharma, who has long relied on childhood coach Rajan Sachdeva to refine his game, said he deliberately sought a fresh perspective before the season. 'I work a lot on batting with the help of my childhood coach Rajan Sachdeva sir. But before this season, I had a thought about trying something different — so I went to Mumbai to work under Pravin Amre sir,' he said on the sidelines of the league in Kanpur.
Over those ten days, Amre identified one or two technical areas — specifically around posture and swing — that he felt could unlock a higher level in Sharma's batting. 'He helped me a lot in one or two technical points with my batting which he felt that I could improve upon to make my game better. Due to that, I saw the change in myself and my shots and power and began to time the ball better,' Sharma said.
Breaking Muscle Memory: The Hardest Part
Sharma was candid about the difficulty of rewiring established mechanics. 'As a batter today, because you are leaving your natural state, and you've been doing one thing for a long time, it's in your muscle memory. So, breaking years of muscle memory — I don't think it's an easy job, obviously,' he said.
He described a transitional struggle lasting roughly a month before the adjustments began to feel natural. 'For that one month, there was a bit of a struggle, but after that, I started enjoying batting, and things started making sense,' he added. Sharma has already planned another visit to Amre ahead of the next Ranji Trophy season, underscoring his commitment to continuous improvement.
Kashi Rudras' Comeback After Four Straight Losses
The two-time champions currently sit third on the points table with eight points as the knockout race intensifies. The team had hit a rough patch mid-season, losing three or four matches in succession, before bouncing back with a commanding 67-run win over Noida Kings. In that match, Sharma blazed 102 off 51 balls, striking 11 boundaries and five sixes.
'When you win like this, obviously the atmosphere in the dressing room becomes very good. We saw that time when we were losing, we were still trying to stay positive. The things that are working for us, we should focus on those things,' Sharma said.
Process Over Results: Sharma's Leadership Philosophy
As captain, Sharma places deliberate emphasis on micro-execution and present-moment focus rather than fixating on outcomes. 'I am a person who believes in the process a lot. How we have to win is more important and what all things we have to do right, even if we have to focus on small things,' he explained.
He noted that the compressed nature of the tournament — roughly 10 matches in 20 days — makes it essential that players reset mentally between games. 'You have to ensure that when you are coming the next day, you are not coming with a win or a loss in the previous game in your mind,' he said.
With the knockouts within reach, Sharma's blend of technical evolution and process-driven captaincy will be central to whether Kashi Rudras claim a historic third title.