It is certainly a time of transition for hosts India as they adjust to life without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who left the shortest format after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup. Abhishek Sharma is one of the few players on the replacement shortlist but has failed to show consistency in his short stint with the national team. A top-level left-handed batter is known for his ability to hit all parts of the plate. This skill was on full display when he scored 47 centuries in the second T20I against Zimbabwe in July 2024.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has acknowledged Sharma’s potential but believes he will need to be fully fit for the five-match series against England, which begins on Wednesday at Eden Gardens, if he is to retain his place in the team.
“Abhishek’s form has been a bit up and down. Firstly, in his second T20I, he scored a century against Zimbabwe. After that there was a lot of promise and a lot of potential, but not enough performance. So I think this is the last opportunity for Abhishek Sharma and I love the guy so much, I think if he pulls it off it will be great. But these 5 matches – go on and live your life. Sanju has made a name for himself in the last three matches and Abhishek Sharma will have to do the same. Otherwise, there will be a slight change in time and Jaiswal will return,” Chopra told Star Sports.
Sharma has represented the national team in 12 T20I matches and barring a century against Zimbabwe, he has managed to score 156 runs in 11 games. While his strike rate is promising at 171.81, his average of 23.27 is definitely a cause for concern.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led team will be strengthened by the return of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami ahead of the all-important Champions Trophy, which is set to begin next month. Shami last played for India in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November 2023. On the other hand, player Mark Wood will return to the team for the first time since August. He will join Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton in England’s blistering attack as the visitors announced their playing squad for the series opener on Tuesday.
India and England have faced each other 24 times in T20Is, with India having a slight lead of 13 wins to England’s 11. However, India have won five of the last seven T20I meetings between the two teams since 2021. Their last T20I clash came in the semi-finals of the 2024 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup T20, where India pulled off a memorable victory.
The series will begin in Kolkata and then play the remaining matches in Chennai, Rajkot, Pune and Mumbai. The final T20I will be played in Mumbai on February 2.
Chopra went on to call the battle of the heavyweights a “bat-match.”
“It will be a bat versus bat contest. Because the battle is an uphill battle on both sides. If we look at the collision, it is not an easy collision. It’s a tough clash where if you hit six, the other team might hit two. And it is possible that if the pitch is correct, both innings will be equal. The pace can be set with the first match and the other team will also be watching from the sidelines. same perspective.
“You also play eleven. You’re also worried about hitting the ball. That’s why you play with two or three real bowlers; the rest are station wagons. So, when both teams play the same type of cricket, almost the same cricket, then there should be a good clash. In my opinion, there should be a lot of runs,” he added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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