- Cricket connoisseurs, experts, ex-players, and crazy fans would vouch in unison that the game is so unpredictable and never follows a certain pattern. The trajectory of the game, as is the case with any sport, can alter at any time, which makes cricket such a fascinating story, garnering a humongous following. As ardent cricket fans would know, the evolution of the sport in the last decade or so has been exponential. Especially the introduction of the shortest format of the game, T20, has completely revolutionized the manner in which traditional sports were being played till then. Of course, the demographics of India make the popularity of the game reach stratospheric levels simply because cricket is hugely popular and widely followed here.
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- Now, one of the most destructive players to have emerged from the stable of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is none other than the opener Abhishek Sharma, whose exploits not only caught the imagination of the discerning cricket lovers but also the Indian selectors. Abhishek’s penchant for going for the kill right from the word go ensured the opposition bowlers were under tremendous pressure. When it came off, Abhishek’s exploits were endearingly lapped up. Soon, the southpaw was drafted into the national team, leading up to the ongoing T20 ICC World Cup. Remember, some of the cricketing legends like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja announced retirement from the international format soon after Team India won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
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- As such, Abhishek was drafted into the national team in place of the hitman Rohit Sharma, and the batter went about his business of attacking the opposition with gay abandon. When it comes off, it looks fabulously enticing when the lefties tonk the bowlers to all parts of the ground. However, when it doesn’t come off, and if you get out without scoring a run, makes it look ugly. Remember, Abhishek’s exploits in the last year or so in the T20 format have been exceptional to say the least. The rising graph of the player at the top of the order propelled him to be ranked as the No. 1 batter in the format. People closely following the player would have noticed his penchant for hitting big sixes on the very first ball faced. Would it come off every single time?
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- Not really, as the southpaw is struggling in the ongoing World Cup with three ducks to his credit, having lasted a mere 8 deliveries. The sudden drop in form must be worrying for the player as well as the team management since Abhishek’s early departure and lack of firepower at the top render the team’s plan go haywire. Whatever the format, giving oneself a few deliveries to get used to the pitch and scoring ones and twos should set the batter going rather than attempting ugly hoicks. Abhishek is too good a batter not to up the run-rate ante even if he doesn’t score quickly at the beginning of the innings. His credentials and quality are not in doubt here. The coach and the captain should encourage the batter to spend a few minutes at the crease in the beginning.
