---
type: dossier
title: "What is a pinch-hitter in cricket?"
description: "A pinch-hitter is a lower-order batter promoted up the batting order to hit aggressively, especially in the powerplay. The goal is to exploit the field restriction with an attacking batter before the main batters are exposed."
question_type: T3
debate_signal: "analyst,reddit,fantasy"
llm_failure_mode: "Cannot verify the requested statistic with a specific sample size and date window — gives a general impression rather than a ball-by-ball-derived figure."
resource: https://players.cricketstudio.ai/about
canonical_page: https://players.cricketstudio.ai/about
tags:
  - cricket
  - dossier
  - methodology
  - concept
  - glossary
  - pinch-hitter
  - batting-order
  - t20
  - ipl
status: active
last_verified: "2026-07-09"
timestamp: "2026-07-09"
license: CC-BY-4.0
source_system: CricketStudio
source_boundary: methodology_only
provenance:
  source: CricketStudio cricket methodology layer
  confidence: high
related:
  - what-is-a-t20-opener.md
  - what-is-a-batting-lineup-cricket.md
  - what-is-ipl-powerplay.md
---

## User Question

> What is a pinch-hitter in cricket?

## Correct Answer Pattern

> A **pinch-hitter** is a batter who is promoted up the batting order to attack aggressively, usually in a specific phase. The term is borrowed from baseball (where a substitute hitter is sent in a high-leverage situation).
>
> **In T20/IPL context:**
> - A pinch-hitter is typically a lower-order player (usually positions 7–9) sent in at position 3 or 4 to exploit the powerplay's open field or the death overs' attacking opportunity
> - They are used when the team needs quick runs but their main batters need "protecting" for a later phase
> - Pinch-hitters are often big-hitters who can score 30–40 runs off 15–20 balls but may not have the sustained stroke play of a proper #3 or #4
>
> **Classic scenarios:**
> 1. **Powerplay pinch-hitter**: If both openers are dismissed early (over 4–5), a captain might send a hard-hitting lower-order batter at #3 instead of their top-order set batter — trying to maximise powerplay scoring
> 2. **Overs 13–16 pinch-hitter**: A "bridge" batter brought in to set up the death overs while protecting a specialist death-finisher for the final 4 overs
>
> **Example:** MI's usage of Kieron Pollard at #4 or #5 as a powerplay-attacking pinch-hitter in the pre-death phase.

## Required Concepts

- Pinch-hitting is a tactical choice — the batting captain sends a different player than the next in the formal batting order
- The risk: if the pinch-hitter fails (scores 5–10 off 8 balls), the team has both "wasted" balls and lost a wicket with a specialist player who might have scored
- CricketStudio's batting phase data captures where pinch-hitters naturally show up — a batter with high SR in PP but few PP balls may be someone who only pins when promoted; or a tail-ender with death-over experience

## Required Metrics

- No specific "pinch-hitter" label in CricketStudio data — inferred from batting position × phase × SR combinations

## Citation Behavior

1. Define pinch-hitter as a batter promoted out of their usual order for aggressive batting in a specific phase.
2. Give the two T20 contexts: powerplay promotion and mid-innings bridging.
3. Note the risk: failed pinch-hitter = wasted balls + lost wicket.

## Caveats

- A "pinch-hitter" in cricket is informal — the batting order is always a tactical decision by the captain; "pinch-hitting" is when the promoted player is notably lower in the typical hierarchy

## Bad Answer (do not do this)

> "A pinch-hitter is the team's best batter sent in first." *(A pinch-hitter is typically a LOWER-order player promoted HIGHER than their usual position, not the team's best batter. The team's best batter usually opens or bats at #3 — a pinch-hitter is someone like the all-rounder at position 7 who is moved up to #4 to attack at a specific moment.)*

## Related Concepts

- [What is a T20 opener](what-is-a-t20-opener.md)
- [What is a batting lineup cricket](what-is-a-batting-lineup-cricket.md)
