Thailand's Natthakan Chantham Embraces Suryakumar Yadav's 'Supla Shot'

Exploring the 'Supla Shot' and Suryakumar's Influence

Natthakan Chantham, a cricketer from Thailand, has expressed her attempts to incorporate the unique 'Supla shot' made famous by Indian T20 star Suryakumar Yadav into her batting technique. This unconventional stroke involves using the wrists to scoop or ramp the ball over the wicketkeeper or fine-leg fielder, sending it behind the batter.

As she prepares for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games, Chantham humorously noted that her practice with the 'Supla shot' has not gone as planned, stating, "It hit me everywhere!" She acknowledged the need to focus on her core strengths before mastering new techniques. Despite the challenges, she holds Suryakumar in high regard, following his performances closely and admiring his confidence and unique batting style. "He just times the ball well, and it becomes beautiful like he is," she remarked.

Admiration for Shubman Gill's Batting Style

In addition to Suryakumar, Chantham also admires Shubman Gill, India's captain in Test and ODI formats, for his effortless batting technique. She appreciates players who can time the ball beautifully and expressed a desire to learn about Gill's mindset while batting rather than focusing solely on technical skills. "I want to know about how he plays, about the mind," she stated.

Impact of Indian Coaching

Chantham credits her Indian coach, Harshal Pathak, for significantly enhancing her batting skills. He has helped her adopt a more aggressive style and understand the nuances of building an innings. "He guided me a lot on how to play aggressive batting and build the game," she shared.

From Accidental Cricketer to Aspiring Star

Chantham's journey into cricket began by chance at the age of eight when she found the movie club at her school full and opted for cricket instead. Despite limited exposure to the sport in Thailand, she draws inspiration from cricketing powerhouses like India, Australia, and England. The 2026 Asian Games hold special significance for her, as she views it as a chance to compete at a high level and inspire future generations of Thai cricketers.

"I picked up cricket accidentally. When I tell people I play cricket, they often confuse it with hockey. But when I mention the SEA Games or Asian Games, they recognize their importance in Thailand," she explained.

"We have no excuse to say, 'We can go easy.' We must give our all and show that Thai cricketers can compete with the best teams in the world," Chantham concluded.