Good batting isn’t about talent. It’s about reps. The right reps, done with intention, build the muscle memory that lets you react instinctively when a bowler sends down a 130 km/h delivery. These are the five drills our coaches at BRSS Cricket Academy use every single week. They work for beginners and experienced players alike.

1. Shadow Batting (15 Minutes)

Shadow batting is exactly what it sounds like: playing shots without a ball. Stand in your batting stance and play through your full range of shots. Forward defense, cover drive, pull shot, cut shot. Focus on your footwork, head position, and follow-through.

How to do it right: Set up in front of a mirror or record yourself on your phone. Play each shot 10 times. Watch for these three checkpoints: Is your head still and over the ball? Is your front foot going to the pitch of the delivery? Is your bat following through in a straight line?

Why it works: Sarbjeet Ladda, who batted against the best bowlers in the IPL, still shadow bats before every net session. “It resets your muscle memory,” he says. “If you can’t play the shot perfectly without a ball, you can’t play it under pressure with one.”

2. Throwdown Drills (20 Minutes)

Throwdowns are when a coach or training partner feeds balls to you from 16-18 yards using an overarm throw. Unlike bowling machines, throwdowns give you visual cues from the hand, which trains your eyes to pick up the ball early.

How to do it right: Work in blocks of 6 balls (one “over”). First over: only forward defense. Second over: only drives. Third over: only back-foot shots. Fourth over: freestyle, play whatever feels right. This structured approach forces you to practice shots you normally avoid.

Coach tip from Ravi Inder Singh Mehra: “Most young batsmen only practice their favorite shots. They’ll play 50 cover drives and zero pull shots. Throwdowns in blocks fix that. You become a complete batsman, not a one-trick player.”

3. Bowling Machine Work (20 Minutes)

The bowling machines at LevelUP deliver consistent pace, length, and line. That consistency is the whole point. When the variable is removed, you can focus 100% on your technique.

How to do it right: Start at 60-70% of the speed you face in matches. Hit 12-18 balls focusing purely on getting into position early. Then increase speed by 10%. At the higher speed, focus on timing rather than power. Finish with 6 balls at full match speed where you play your natural game.

Key detail: Set the machine to deliver the same ball repeatedly until you’re executing the shot cleanly, then change the length or line. Don’t randomize too early. Groove the correct response to each delivery before adding unpredictability.

4. Scenario Batting (15 Minutes)

This drill turns net practice into match simulation. Before each ball, the coach calls out a scenario: “Last over, need 12 runs.” Or: “First over of your innings, see off the new ball.” Or: “You’ve been in for 30 balls, time to accelerate.”

How to do it right: Treat it like a real match. If the scenario says “need 12 off the last over,” you should be looking to hit boundaries. If the scenario says “see off the new ball,” you should be leaving and defending. The coach tracks whether your shot selection matches the situation.

Why it matters: Muhammad Asif points out that many technically good batsmen fail in matches because they can’t adapt their game to the situation. “Nets are easy because there’s no pressure,” he says. “Scenario batting adds the mental challenge that separates net players from match players.”

5. Video Review (10 Minutes)

Record your net sessions on your phone (a simple tripod from the side angle works perfectly) and review the footage immediately after. Don’t wait until you get home. The feedback loop needs to be tight.

What to look for: Compare your setup position across different shots. Is it consistent? Watch your head movement, specifically whether your head falls over to the off side (a common flaw that destroys your balance on leg-side shots). Check your backlift: is it coming down straight, or is it angled across your body?

Pro method: Our coaches use slow-motion video analysis during academy sessions to give players frame-by-frame feedback. You don’t need fancy software. The slow-motion camera on any modern smartphone is more than enough to spot the big technical issues.

Putting It All Together

A complete batting practice session using all five drills takes about 80 minutes. You don’t have to do all five every time. Shadow batting and one other drill make a solid 30-minute session. The key is consistency. Three focused sessions per week will produce noticeable improvement within a month.

Want to run through these drills with a coach who’s batted in the IPL? Check the session schedule at BRSS Cricket Academy, or explore the full cricket program at LevelUP Sports. Academy packages start at $119 for 4 sessions.