The spotlight is once again on India’s opening batsman, Abhishek Sharma, after another disappointing performance in the first T20I against South Africa in Durban. While India secured a comfortable 61-run victory, Sharma’s contribution of just seven runs off eight balls has raised concerns about his form and approach.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has openly questioned Sharma’s ultra-aggressive batting style, suggesting it might be the root of his recent struggles. Comparing Sharma’s performance to that of his opening partner, Sanju Samson, who smashed a blistering 107 runs off 50 balls, Chopra highlighted the stark contrast in their approaches.
Chopra, in a video analysis on his YouTube channel, remarked, “It’s a tale of two openers. There is Sanju (Samson), whose stars are shining bright, on one side. On the other side is Abhishek Sharma, whose stars have fallen. When he struck a century against Zimbabwe, he was that shining new bright star.”
Sharma’s meteoric rise began with a sensational century off just 47 balls in his second T20I against Zimbabwe, but his form has dipped significantly since then. His highest score in seven other T20I innings has been a meager 16.
Chopra’s criticism centered on Sharma’s shot selection, particularly the dismissal against Gerald Coetzee. “The shot he played in this match as well against Gerald Coetzee, it seems like he is a prisoner of his own reputation, that he would play like this only and is not going to wait,” Chopra analyzed.
The former cricketer emphasized that Sharma’s continued underperformance could put his spot in the team at risk. “It’s been one more failure. A time will come when it will be a problem. Questions will be asked about how long you will stick with him. Again, he will get three more games, but one by one the sand is being seen slipping from his hand,” Chopra cautioned.
With three more matches in the series, the pressure is mounting on the 24-year-old batsman to deliver and justify his selection. Can Sharma regain his form and silence his critics, or will his struggles continue to cast a shadow over his international career?
