It is certainly a time of transition for hosts India as they adjust to life without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who withdrew from the shortest format after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024. Abhishek Sharma is one of the few players on the shortlist of replacements but has failed to show consistency in his short stint with the national team. The top-order left-handed batsman is known for his ability to hit all parts of the ground. This ability was on full display when he scored a blistering century off 47 deliveries in the second T20I against Zimbabwe in July 2024.
Former India batsman Aakash Chopra has recognized Sharma's potential but believes he will have to be in full form in the five-match match against England, starting on Wednesday at the Eden Gardens, if he is to retain his place in the side.
“Abhishek's form has been up and down a bit. In the beginning, in his second T20I, he scored a century against Zimbabwe. After that, a lot of promise and a lot of potential, but not enough performance. So I think for Abhishek Sharma, this is the last chance, and I really love the kid. I think if he does well, it will be something great. But these five matches: go ahead and live your life. Because in these matches, like Sanju has made name in the last three games, op same way Abhishek Sharma will have to do it otherwise there will be a little change over time and Jaiswal will come back,” Chopra told Star Sports.
Sharma has represented the national team in 12 T20Is and apart from the century against Zimbabwe, he has managed to amass 156 in 11 matches. Although his pass percentage of 171.81 is promising, his average of 23.27 is certainly worrying.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led team will be strengthened with the return of veteran Mohammed Shami ahead of the all-important Champions Trophy starting next month. Shami last played for India in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November 2023. On the other hand, pacer Mark Wood is making his return to the team for the first time since August. He will join Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton in England's pace attack as the visitors announced their 11th players for the series opener on Tuesday.
India and England have faced each other 24 times in the T20Is, with India holding a narrow lead with 13 wins to England's 11. However, India have won five of the last seven T20I encounters between the two teams since 2021. Their last T20I clash took place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup 2024 where India recorded a memorable win.
The series will start in Kolkata and then move to Chennai, Rajkot, Pune and Mumbai for the remaining matches. The final T20I will take place in Mumbai on February 2.
Chopra went on to label the battle between the heavyweights as a “bat-vs-bat match.”
“It will be a bat-vs-bat match. Because batting is a heavyweight on both sides. If we look at the clash, it is not a lightweight clash. It is a heavyweight clash, where if you hit a six, the other team can hit two. And it is possible that if the tone is right, both innings will be the same. The pace can be set on the first game, and the other team will also look at it from the same perspective.
'You also play elves. You're also worried about hitting. That's why you play two-three real bowlers; the rest are all-rounders. So if both teams play the same brand of cricket, almost a similar brand of 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 DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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