Multan Sultans’ star opener Sahibzada Farhan has opened up about the transformation behind his rise to becoming one of the most dominant T20 batters in the world.
The talented batter continues to make headlines in the ongoing 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11).
In a recent interview, Sahibzada Farhan explained how a shift in mindset, along with a strong focus on strike rate and power-hitting, helped him achieve record-breaking success.
Sahibzada Farhan has been in exceptional form since the start of 2025, scoring more T20 runs and hitting more sixes than any other batter. Since returning to Pakistan’s national side in May last year, he has accumulated 1,219 T20I runs at an average of 35.85 and a strike rate of 140.92.
His dominance was further highlighted earlier this year when he set a record for the most runs in a single T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 383 runs at a strike rate of 160.25, including two centuries in six innings in Sri Lanka.
Reflecting on his journey, Farhan admitted that he used to put too much pressure on himself, which negatively affected his performances. Over time, he shifted his mindset to focus on enjoying the game, a change he credits for his improved results.
Despite consistently being among the leading run-scorers in domestic cricket, Farhan admitted that his strike rate once limited his recognition at the highest level. He identified a turning point in his career following a direct conversation with teammate Iftikhar Ahmed.
“Iftikhar Ahmed had an honest conversation with me and said, ‘You cannot be playing with a strike rate of 132 as an opener,’” Farhan said.
At the time, Farhan did not fully agree with the criticism, especially as he was already topping batting charts in domestic tournaments. However, he later realized that scoring quickly was equally important in modern T20 cricket.
“I did not like him saying that and found it odd because I was scoring the most runs, but later I understood that I needed to improve my strike rate and push it closer to 150,” he added.
This realization marked a clear shift in his approach. Rather than focusing only on accumulating runs, Farhan began prioritizing intent and boundary-hitting, particularly during the powerplay.
“I began aiming to be the leading six-hitter in every tournament. I started to practice power-hitting,” he said.
The impact of this transformation was evident in major tournaments, including the Asia Cup 2025, where Farhan’s aggressive approach brought him into the spotlight. He notably took on Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in the world, and hit multiple sixes against him.
“It is difficult to play him but you have to find a way to do it. Once you are able to do so, the other bowlers seem easier to play,” Farhan said.
He also described those shots as among his most memorable moments, adding that his confidence grew after successfully attacking a bowler of Bumrah’s caliber.
Farhan also highlighted the effort behind his improved strike rate, revealing the intensity of his preparation.
“There is a lot of effort behind my six-hitting. Asif Ali once said he hits 100 to 120 sixes each day, I also practice in a similar manner,” he said.
While his ability to clear boundaries has made him one of the most dangerous openers in T20 cricket, Farhan acknowledged that his game is still evolving. He admitted that strike rotation remains an area for improvement.
“I can hit sixes but I have an issue with strike rotation. I am working on how I can steal singles with soft hands,” he said.
Despite this, Farhan remains confident that his continued focus on improving his strike rate will help him maintain his form.
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