Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra downplayed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s factor after Abhishek Sharma scored a stunning century in the third T20I against New Zealand. Chopra highlighted that Sharma plays in a similar fashion, irrespective of his opening partner.
Abhishek opened the innings with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi instead of Sanju Samson, who was demoted to number three.
Abhishek went on to score a magnum opus knock of 113 runs off 38 balls, including nine fours and 11 sixes. This is Abhishek’s fourth T20I century as he once again proved his mettle.
The southpaw added 133 runs off just 43 balls with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 45 runs off just 19 balls, for the opening alliance.
Aakash Chopra said on Cricinfo, “Well, he wouldn’t care, honestly, because when you’re talking about those numbers, he has obviously batted with different partners. As an opener, this is how it actually unfolds. So what’s happening at the other end is least of his concern. And he just starts smashing. Whether it’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi at the other end, it’s Sanju Samson or Travis Head in the IPL, if it’s his day, you give up. You surrender as a bowling unit.”
Chopra added that Abhishek’s blistering knock should not be undervalued as there was some help for the bowlers.
“See, it is still not Rajkot or Indore. We’re still playing at Wellington. This is where the ball moves around a little bit. We saw what Bhuvneshwar Kumar did with the new ball, along with Arshdeep Singh. The batting was a little difficult, unless the ball was pitched short.
“We don’t want to belittle it by saying these were good conditions. Yes, not bowler-friendly, seamer-friendly conditions, but still, it’s New Zealand. I think the skills on display are absolutely incredible. Because he’s able to hit good balls for fours and sixes,” he concluded.
The fourth T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Eden Park, Auckland, on Friday.
