After Matthew Hayden's Mongoose, it is Suresh Raina's T20 version. The India left-hander, who plays for the Chennai Super Kings, will soon be holding the new version crafted for the shortest format of the game.
“It is a bit heavy, so I haven't started using it in the matches. But in practice sessions, I am trying to get used to its weight. You would soon see me using it in the matches,” said Raina, who used it only for a little while in the previous game.
For the uninitiated, the bat is not radically different from the standard bat, as is the case with mongoose.
The bat's sweet spot is deeper and is slightly increased. The makers have stuffed more wood on the back and according to them, “it will give it more impact”.
“You get to see a lot of developments happening in the game. The bowlers are coming up with new tricks, like the slow bouncers and the wide yorkers. We need bats to help counter those tactics,” added Raina.
Paras Anand, the head of Sanspareil Greenlands (SG), said, “We have put 25 per cent more wood which has increased the weight of the bat by about eight per cent.
{{/usCountry}}Paras Anand, the head of Sanspareil Greenlands (SG), said, “We have put 25 per cent more wood which has increased the weight of the bat by about eight per cent.
{{/usCountry}}“The weight of this T20 special bat is about 1300 grams,” said Anand.
The bat will be launched after the Indian Premier League and before the World T20 that will be played in the West Indies. Though there's no price tag to it yet, the manufacturers say it could cost anywhere between Rs 10,000-12,000.
“The final decision on the price and the launch would be taken later,” said Anand.