In a routine practice session on the eve of the match against CSK, the home team RCB wrapped up a batting-heavy session as they usually do. The top-order had had their share of work done, and now it was time for two of their biggest hitters to pair up. Tim David and Romario Shepherd would take turns to face the ball and slowly, even casual onlookers were drawn in to see what was happening in the middle. First there was a danger that a flying missile off the bat coming dangerously near. But the other reason to be drawn in was the sheer sight of flying balls all across the empty venue, with a heavy "thuck" echoing.
The Chinnaswamy had a smattering of people stationed in various stands and almost all of them were kept active through the course of their session. For, both David and Shepherd would routinely clear the fence and also smack a fair few outside the stadium from one of the corner practice wickets. The session would last about thirty minutes, and by a rough estimate, they would have cleared the ropes at least a dozen times each. Imagine this process repeated across every practice session through a week. And it should give you an inkling of how sixes are no longer just a happy by-product of a well-timed loft, but a meticulously carved skillset possessed by a select few at the moment.