Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels South African bowlers can look to bowl short deliveries from the get-go against in-form Abhishek Sharma in the first T20I of the series. Pathan reckons the Proteas bowlers might also look to bowl wide outside the off-stump to the left-hander.

Sharma has been in tremendous form as he is batting at the top of his game and recently completed a fifty off just 12 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The southpaw scored 314 runs in seven matches of the Asia Cup at an average of 44.85 and a blistering strike rate of 200. Furthermore, Sharma scored 163 runs in five matches against Australia at an average of 40.75 and a strike rate of 161.39.

“The flow with which he is batting, the strike rate with which he is batting like at 190-200, and averages close to 40, you won’t find any other batter who is this consistent while playing in this style. South Africa might look to bowl outside off stump, or they might even go for the short ball in the first or the second ball of the innings itself. We have to see how Abhishek Sharma counters this.” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

Pathan reckons there will be an opportunity for Abhishek Sharma to learn and improve if South African bowlers come up with new plans.

“If something is being tried against Abhishek Sharma, that is better, because it will be an opportunity for Abhishek Sharma to counter that and improve. If South Africa try nothing new against him, then also it is fine, let it continue, he is batting really well anyway.” Irfan Pathan said.

Sharma is the number one T20I batter in the ICC rankings, and he has scored 1012 runs in 29 T20Is.

The first T20I between India and South Africa will be played at the Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, on Tuesday.